Plant Doctor Archive

Water Gardens — Leaking ponds?

DO all water features leak? I heard Maggie Barry make a comment to this effect and, although I'm sure she was being flippant, it does seem that a lot of my friends have this problem.

NO, they do not all leak! It is, however, an all too common problem. Poor construction can lead to leaks, so if you are having a concrete pond installed, ensure it is sealed properly. Even if the contractor says he is using a concrete additive, you should insist it be coated with a good pond sealant that is an elastomeric membrane. We recommend Pondflex.

If your pond was made using a flexible liner then beware of sharp objects and ensure there is a good layer of sand underneath the liner. Having said all this, ponds do lose a surprising amount of water due to evaporation, especially in summer, so don't be too quick to discount this as a possible cause.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.