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How to hide my pond liner?
gilla.walmsley
Posts: 339
Although it's looking a bit stark now, in the summer my 2020 built wildlife pond looks lovely and I'm generally happy with it... except for the blimmin' pond liner around the back and side, which I just cannot find a way to hide! I've tried planting a few different things - vincas and campanula, but they're not really working - either they're barely growing/trailing at all (campanula) or the vincas which have either died or are drooping long wiry stems into the pond, which isn't good (I don't want anything that falls too far into the pond, unless it's a marginal plant). The tricky thing is the soil beyond the pond liner is quite dry for most of the year, so marginal plants wouldn't work.
It's also possible I've cut the pond liner too short which is causing the problem!
Ideally I want something evergreen which would hide the liner in winter too, and would cover the edge of the liner but not grow into the pond. I can't use pebbles because it's on a slope and they would all just fall into the pond (and I don't really want pebbles all the way around).
I'm completely stumped for any more ideas!
It's also possible I've cut the pond liner too short which is causing the problem!
Ideally I want something evergreen which would hide the liner in winter too, and would cover the edge of the liner but not grow into the pond. I can't use pebbles because it's on a slope and they would all just fall into the pond (and I don't really want pebbles all the way around).
I'm completely stumped for any more ideas!
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Posts
I've used Dwarf Greek Oregano and creeping thyme Jekka which has worked ok.
The oregano dies back in winter so the edge is revealed - but the pond is at the end of my garden so I don't see it much over winter. It smells lovely and is a mass of pink flowers (and bees) in the summer.
The creeping thyme is evergreen, and has lovely flowers (and bees) too.
Creeping thyme in flower on the left (or bottom of the rotated photo....)
Dwarf oregano (not yet in flower) on the right (or top of the rotated photo)
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Alternatively, and it would be a bit more work, you could dig a further little ditch/border, round the edge, close in to the pond edge, and push the liner into it. You could even add more liner, or any kind of plastic, and create more of a boggy area. You seem to have plenty of room to do that.
That would give you more scope for other things like Caltha- marsh marigolds, and some of the Irises. Carexes will also do well - avoid C.pendula though. Your Campanulas and Vincas would thrive better too, as they prefer a good bit of moisture, and you could add snowdrops and other moisture loving bulbs and plants - even hardy geraniums, Hellebores etc. I also have things like Pulsatillas and Heucheras. The latter prefers a bit of shade, but will cope if it has enough moisture.
If you're able to make a bigger area, Ligularias will be happy, as they like plenty of moisture but lots of sun.
It would make your pond slightly smaller, but it may be a better solution than constantly fighting with the edging.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I like @Pete.8 's idea of oregano. I have used dwarf comfrey in a similar situation and it works well, is evergreen and when it flowers, which is beginning now, it's covered in bees and other pollinators.
Pete I actually really love the look both the Thyme and the Oregano on your pond. I'd read about thyme before but I think decided against it as I wasn't keen on the bright pink, but I love the colour of the Jekka! I'm definitely going to invest in some of that.
Fairygirl I'm struggling to visualise what you mean - do you mean dig a shelf kind of area into the pond? There is a shelf already in it so an alternative / additional option would be to plant things in the pond that hide the edge - for example where the grasses are on the bottom right of my pic (cut short in winter) the edge doesn't bother me so much as it's not as noticeable with the grasses in front of it. I have bought quite a few different plants hoping they would grow "up" but none I've bought seem to go upwards except for the grasses so maybe I need to do some more research there. Any excuse to buy more pond plants is good with me
Uff I did try that last year but everything kept falling into the pond
Loxley thank you for taking the time to do this! This is what I need! And alliums would grow really well in the area behind it as the soil is very free draining there. I did tentatively put a stipa around the edge last year to see what it looked like, but because it's on quite a steep slope it looked really odd pointing diagonally outwards and planting it horizontally didn't hide the liner. But the grass you've suggested looks like it would cover more at the base, and I can dig out the surrounding area to make it a bit less steep so it's not poking out in an odd way diagonally.
Buttercup days thank you for the suggestions! I'll have a little Google. I had read about / thought alpines could be a good option because it's dry, which led me to the campanula (or perhaps it's aubretia, I always get mixed up) but it hasn't spread / grown / moved at all in over a year. I'll see if I can find something fast growing!