You've purchase that garden pool - now you've got to set it in your yard without making a mess. Here's how.
There's nothing like water to add that extra oomph to a garden. The reflection of trees and rocks along with the abundant opportunity for plant and pond life make a pond a desirable addition to any garden setting. And now that easy to install moulded pond liners are readily available, there's no excuse for not having one yourself. You can, in fact, do the bulk of the work in a single weekend.
Before you begin, make sure that you've got the necessary tools. Here's what you'll need:
A bolster chisel
A club hammer
A Mallet
A Mattock
A Paintbrush
Scissors
A Shovel
A Spade
A spirit level
A tape measure
A trowel
A wheelbarrow
The best pool liners are made from fibreglass. These are virtually leak proof and stand up well to the effects of frost and ice. Once you have worked out the dimensions available for your pool visit your garden center and check out the different shapes on offer. Once you have made your purchase, you can begin straight into the installation process.
To get good results your pond must be sited correctly. Don't place it under deciduous trees - the falling leaves will cause you no end of problems and may even poison any fish you have in the pond. Your pond should have access to sunlight in order to encourage the growth of water plants. Make sure that you get the right surface area to volume ratio for your pool. If your pond is 100 sq ft in area, it should be at least one and a half feet deep. As the area increases, the depth also will increase, though it very rare that you will have to dig deeper than two and a half feet.
To install your moulded pool liner follow these steps:
(1) Stand your liner in it's position, propping it up with boxes. Use a spirit level to mark key points on the ground, marking them with pegs. Make sure you have marked out the lip depth as well as the differing internal depths.
(2) Remove the liner, then dig your excavations as per your markings. Once complete lay a straight edge across the top and measure the depth of your excavation. Now extend your excavations by about six inches on all sides.
(3) Compact the base of the pool and cover with a layer of sharp sand 1 inch deep.
(4) Lower your liner slowly into place. Now angle battens around the outer lip to keep the pool firmly in place.
(5) Start to fill your new pool with water from a garden hose. At the same time, pour sand around the edges of the pool. Finally, use your hands to pack the final bits of soil around the outer lip.
