Pond / water feature pump advice please

Are you going to put rocks or somesuch around the edge to hide the liner?

I cant remember who it is but someone on here used fake grass.

 

Something will go there, but we're undecided what yet.

I must absolve myself of all blame, because this is my young son's project. I'm just the labourer (and the one with the credit card). I've largely given him the freedom to do it as he wants, but with my careful input to try to minimise disasters.

He wanted a pebble path around it but I can't see how that could see how that would work. Surely the pebbles will just fall in the pond as they get disturbed. I have some decent flag stones that I wanted to use but the lad doesn't like that idea. I also have some nice semi flat natural sandstones which are big enough to not easily move by accident but small enough to move on purpose if that makes sense.

 

I think its always difficult to edge the pond, hide the liner and make it look like its always been there.
And it needs to be safe and not wobbly because if its possible to stand on, someone will at some stage.

 

Many years ago I remember seeing some stuff that was like liner material with pebbles already glued on, specifically to put round edges

 

The pond has been filled now for about three days. I've noticed the water level has dropped a couple of inches. It hasn't been warm enough or windy enough for evaporation to explain it, and I'm as confident as I can be that the liner is intact.

Is this likely to just be the ground underneath settling under the weight?

 

I'm leaning towards settling.

 

Evaporation can be quite noticeable, and the smaller the pond the more noticable it will be.
I notice the water level in mine sometimes lowers quickly in comparison to others. I've even been convinced that there is a leak at times. Dry atmosphere and low humidity seems to have more effect than you might expect.

 

In my battle against evaporation I have a temporary hose linked to my water catcher diverter from one of my water butts to the pond ,this I have found to be a godsend .
That is when we get a good quantity of rain………..

 

Getting there. Some plants around the outside of it now. I know we're doing things in the wrong order but this is my son's project and kids are impatient creatures.



Next challenge is making the path around the pond. I'm not sure what to do. The boy wants pebbles but I see two problems there. The pebbles will fall into the pond, and likely so will anyone walking on them.

I thought about either flag stones or concrete, but the lad is not keen on either. The lad prioritises appearance, while I prioritise safety and low maintenance. Any ideas on the perimeter path welcome.

 

If it was mine I'd go for slabs around three quarters of it with some fake grass on the other quarter, just dipping into the water for the creepy crawlies to get in and out.

I'd put the slabs with a slight overlap on the pond, it looks nicer and covers the liner better, keeps the sun off exposed liner as well.

 

Maybe concoct some form of decking? You could omit awkward bits by infilling with evergreen plants.

 

How solid is the edge? I've made a few ponds and it can be a bit of a nightmare laying slabs so you have an overhang as pete suggests but also plenty of slab to walk on safely. With my latest ponds, even with big, rectangular slabs, you can't stand on the edge without them tipping. The classic method is to build a couple of courses of brick as a firm support for the slabs.
+1 for fake grass. It's superbly practical for disguising a liner and allowing plants to creep/drape up to the water's edge. No maintenance required and the frogs love sunbathing on it It fades slowly from the initial, artificial bright green to a more natural colour.

 

When I did mine I laid the slabs on sand and cement mix with roughly 25 to 30mm overhanging.
I did use some bent aluminium to form an anchor at the back of each slab just in case anyone stepped near enough the edge to make them tip.

 

If you use cement at or near the water you will probably need to do a water change afterwards.