Will roots penetrate butyl pool liner?

I am making a small pond and have started digging the hole, but one edge will be about 6in from a Laurel hedge. I also have a honeysuckle farther away in another position. Are the roots liable to puncture the liner, or should I line the hole with concrete and paving slabs to stop the root penetration?

Thanks

Andrew

 

I can't say it won't be a problem, because six inches is very close, I'm surprised you haven't come across the roots already. You may have to cut them which won't do it any could. but it's difficult to give an opinion without seeing the size of the laurel or the size and depth you're going to dig the pool. But I wouldn't want it that close.

I've never been fond of liners that have no protection, particularly if the pond is to have a permanent edge. An unrepairable punctured liner can cause a lot of problems, the least being the cost of replacing the liner.

In your situation I'd dig down vertically along the edge where you intend to finish the pool and place a line of tiles or similar as a barrier against the laurel just to be sure. The effort required isn't that great and it'll give you peace of mind, if nothing else.
The honeysuckle should be no problem other than "all the leaves falling into the pond in the autumn."

 

I'm not an expert at anything in the garden, so wouldn't want to suggest I could give a definitive opinion either way on this, but .....

My 'gut' feeling would be, better safe than sorry. As you're only at the 'starting-to-dig-the-hole' stage, now is the time to take remedial action (that's if you can take remedial action before it's required!). With roots so close, I'd most certainly do as Doghouse has suggested and put in another physical barrier, although personally I wouldn't choose a line of tiles - purely on the basis that roots may find a way round, between, over or under them.

Granted, it will take a little more time, mean a bit more work and indeed slightly more expense - between £3 and £10 perhaps - but were this my pond, I'd put up some 'shuttering' and pour in a bag (or two) of ready-mix cover that with sand and feed in your butyl liner. It might mean losing a few inches from the laurel hedge side of your pool (which you could perhaps 'steal' from the opposite side), but personally I'd just be a lot happier knowing it was there.

 

I agree, the other problem is that the hedge will continue to grow and start to overshadow the pond if it isn't constantly cut back.

I'd never contemplate building a pond (other than a "puddle," no offence intended) without first forming a concrete collar relative to the size of the pool and putting in a concrete screed base before the liner, a couple of inches deep is sufficient.
I'd then be confident say a few years later, of being able to step into it in my wellies if necessary to sort out any planting I couldn't reach from the side and not have the worry of standing on something under the liner which might puncture it.

 

My pond has been in position for over twenty yrs.
When I dug it there was a young wisteria about 10ft away.

Anyway it was not a problem at the time of digging.

Eventually I was forced to cut down the wisteria as it was taking over the whole area, very nice plant it was too.

I dug out all the root I could about 10yrs ago, I still get suckers from its rootstock occasionally coming up on the other side of the pond.

In short the roots are well under the liner and I can feel them, but they dont penetrate they just move the liner out of their way.

Anything like bamboo with sharp shoots I would be wary of, but I think if the liner is still good it just moves aside and lets the roots go along under it.