How can I build a solid edge around my pond? How should i edge my pond

l have a formal garden. How should l edge my pond?

If the surface of the pond is at ground level and is set within a gravelled area, you will need to use paving stones or bricks to edge the pond, both to disguise the edge of the liner and to stop gravel constantly falling into the pond. If it is set at ground level within a paved or brick area, laying paving stones or bricks right up to and slightly over the edge of the water will hide the liner. For safety's sake it is often a good idea to highlight the pond by using a different material, colour or shape of paving around the edge. If, for example, it is set in a brick patio the bricks round the pond could be set on edge to contrast with the flat laid bricks, or it can it can be edged with paving stones as a contrast. If the pond is raised above ground level, the edge is often most appropriately created by large paving stones, which not only hide the liner and the construction of the walls but also provide a convenient place to sit.

How can I build a solid edge around my pond?

The simplest form of hard edging to a pond is paving slabs. If the pond is in the middle of your patio this will be the obvious solution, anyway, but it will also work in other areas, including gravel gardens or even when the pond is set in grass. It is possible to make or buy slabs that are slightly tapered so that they fit snugly together around curves, but you can use square ones if you add a fillet of cement between them to take up the curve. It is essential that the slabs are firmly fixed, and they are best secured by bedding them down in cement or concrete. The concrete should be laid over the edge of the liner in a smooth layer and the slabs are laid on the bed of mortar. Add or remove concrete as necessary to make sure that the slabs are even.

The paving slabs are slumping towards the pond. What has gone wrong?

This could have happened simply because the slabs were not laid properly and have come loose. First lift all the slabs from around the pond. Next excavate a shallow trench right round the pond, and fill this trench with concrete to make a firm and stable base.

Make sure that the edges of the pond liner are under the concrete.
Bed the slabs down on to the concrete base, making sure that they are level or have just the slightest of slopes towards the pond so that rainwater is shed into it.

It is more serious if the paving slabs are not level because the edge of the pond was not properly constructed and the ground is giving way or the whole of the bank is slowly falling into the pond. Whatever the cause, you will have to rebuild the bank. This may mean emptying the pond completely so that you can reinforce the sides. Again, lay the slabs on a solid base of concrete.