New pond, water loss

I have just created a new pond, it is a readymade liner, and edged it with hessian sacking made into pockets, adding a few plants so as to eventually have a more natural edge. It looks lovely, however, I think that the hessian is wicking the water up and over the edge, as the level goes down over the course of a few days. As I have 4 little fish, I don't want to continually top up the water level. Had the pond insitu for 2 weeks prior to planting edges/adding fish, with no water displacement. If I place pond liner around the edges under the hessian, will this stop the wicking action? Or is there a better fix for this?

 

Hi maggielef
I'm sure you have found the reason, and stopping the hessian from contacting the soil or over hanging the top edge will sort it. I think a folded liner that envelopes the hessian so excess water runs back into the pond would do the job.
Evaporation and plants will reduce the level also though
Any chance of a pic?:thumb:

 

Thanks! Will try a photo, but no promises will work! It is still a work in progress though!k-l

 

Am hoping that I have uploaded a photo, let's see.

 

Hello maggielef, may I suggest you use planting baskets instead.

Hessian used to be used in baskets with "large holes" to stop the pond soil from "leaking" (I presume you are using pond / aquatic soil?)
The problem is that after a short while it rots, so some bright spark came up with the idea of making baskets with really small holes. You can get baskets from This place (Other suppliers of planting baskets are available)

If you use planting baskets they should either be stood on a shelf or the bottom of the pond, if you buy some and tie them to the side osmosis may occur.

Alternatively you could plant plants in the soil around the pond and trail them over, in a few weeks most plants will start to "fill out"

 

What a lovely pond.

 

I have now placed liner under the edges and sandwiched the edges of the hessian by folding the liner over top and covering with stones. All with to intense interest of the fish. They followed from on side to another blowing bubbles at me. So will watch the water level over the next few days to see if the fix worked.
I had sewn the hessian into pockets, as suggested in a pond gardening book, and filled the odd pocket with aquatic soil. The fish like to hide under the pockets as well, and as the plants haven't grown enough to give them many places to hide, it keeps them away from prying eyes of the very interested cats.
Now we are moving on to the next space, a screened bench so can sit and watch the water/fish etc.