Installing a garden pond is no longer a distant dream but an easy goal. Concrete ponds have been replaced with artificial, preformed and flexible Pond Liners which make the task of installing a pond easier and cheaper.

When building on a budget, one can settle for a small water garden that holds less than 1,500 gallons of water or is less than 10 X 13 X 19 deep. You may choose a preformed pond that is rigid or a liner which is flexible. You can install a basic 10X16ft pond with a good-quality liner for less than $1,000.

The first alternative is preformed ponds, which are available in different shapes and sizes and cost a fraction of concrete ponds. Using these materials, the amateur gardener can install a pond in less than a day and have it stocked with fish, plants and fountain by the next day.

The simplest pond is the aboveground preformed pond. A bottomless box can be placed above a flat surface, and a cushion material can be placed at the bottom. The Pond Liner can be laid around the bottom and spread around the pond surface, after which it can be filled with water. Later, any excess liner can be trimmed off.

The second type is the in-ground pond. Most people choose the flexibility of a liner because they can build of any shape, size and depth. First, a plastic hose can be used to indicate the shape of the pond on the ground, after which you can start digging. Once the pond is excavated, the Pond Liner can be placed inside and fixed with stones and bricks. Care should be taken to protect the liner from sunlight.

Flexible rubber liners have the same lifetime as preformed fiberglass, but cost half as much. The standard 45 mm EPDM-2 is a popular choice, as it is durable and flexible. Rubber is also superior to other flexible liners like PVC. PVC becomes stiff in cold weather. Rubber decays more slowly than PVC when exposed to sunlight.