Used carpet also makes a dandy underlayment and can usually be obtained for free from local carpet installers.

We used old bits of carpet. It was free. Just make sure it is free of staples. Mine had a few in it that had to be pulled out. Cheap way instead of free. If you have an Olly's store near you. They sell carpet rems cheap!

I wish I had used newspaper from the begining. My pond is in wet clay and when I had to move the EPDM liner before I filled the pond, to make an adjustment, the carpet I had used as a liner stank to high heaven. I pulled it out and replaced it with the newspaper. I left the carpet on the sides and I'm still uncomfortable with it. The edge shows up clearly if you look for it. Newspaper wouldn't be good for the sides but underlayment or outdoor carpeting wouldn't bother me as much. Sandy

Thanks guys, this makes me feel alot better about using it. Now to get the newspaper. It's illegal here to take any recycling or garbage off the curb. Gotta use my connections at the recycling center I guess, lol.

Horton, that is Exactly what I am going to do! Thank you! From everything I have read on here, you seem to be like the 'pond guru', so I feel way more comfortable with this now. Thank you.

CCoombs, Bill, Sandy, I was thinking of the carpet rems but then I also thought about what a stench I would have to deal with when digging up like Sandy said. And I would think it would get moldy as well. eeww damp, stinky, moldy carpeting..no thanks, lol. If this was more perm I may be tempted to use it, but I dont want to deal with that ickiness when I dig it up. PLUS nothing is free here, unless I go on Craigslist or Freecycle. It's illegal to take out of the dumpsters at businesses, and if you want something you see them throwing out, they WILL charge you for it. Ridiculous.

Sandy, why do you say newspaper wouldn't be good for the sides? I don't see it as a problem, spray the newspaper so it stays. Seems it would work well if used as Horton used it.

Thank you everyone!
Daniella :)

When I recently re-did part of a pond I found the carpet underlayment to be in very good shape. Maybe it depends on the soil or how much moisture it's exposed to. My only concern with newspaper for underlayment is it would offer no protection from plant roots...they would just pop right through it. I have heard of some people having good results using Tyvec house wrap as underlayment. It's the stuff they sell on rolls to put on new houses under the siding. It's very strong and won't rot under the liner.

If I could get some Tyvec for free, I would use it. But that isn't gonna happen, lol. I think the carboard, as long as it's a sturdy kind will be good.
Thanks,
Daniella

The nice thing about using newspapers and/or cardboard is that they will eventually decompose and enrich the soil--they can be left in place if the pond is ever removed. Carpet is a different story.

We used sand.

Thanks, Daniella for your kind response.
A guru I'm not. LOL
I just post about the things I have personally encountered, just like the other folks here, who are willing to share their experiences.

Cindy put forward a valid point, about the type of soil your dealing with and of course the possibility of tree roots puncturing the cardboard.
The soil in the area, where we used the cardboard and news paper was clay. But I have also used both those materials, under an extension pond I installed for myself.
I have not seen or detected any problems as yet.
I used old carpet and 1 1/2" styrofoam sheets under my main pond when I installed it.
One guy I know used newspaper, a variety of old clothes,topped off with layers of sawdust and just about anything soft, he had lying around. It has worked for him over many years.

As to those materials breaking down/composting. It would take some time because of the lack of oxygen in the soil, it really compresses into a hard pack.
"Horton"

I used an old queen sized matress pad that no longer fit when I got a king sized bed--it was taking up space in the linen closet. It worked nicely as did an old thermal blanket that had seen better days. The great thing about those is the size--you don't have to do a lot of patching to get coverage. My daughter-in-law told me about freecycle.com--a source for things that people don't want anymore--everything is free. You could join and ask for newspapers to be saved for you.
Good luck & happy ponding!

If there are small towns around you that have newspapers, they regularly have an excess of overruns, print runs that were messed up, smeared, returned for one reason or another and they find creative ways to use the excess. While it has been several years since I needed it, the bundled papers were free to anyone who could use it, first come, first served. I tried to get there ahead of the local dairy farmers who used it for cow bedding in large quantities. What I used up was piddling compared to a cow, apparently.
The sides of my pond are pretty much straight up, in a useless attempt to foil the local wildlife. I couldn't figure how to keep the papers in place. Big pieces of wet cardboard might have been a good bet. Sandy

Hi
Just recently redid an above ground 5x10 pool. Not because it leaked but had become over run with strangler fig and marshmallow. I had originally used a fiberglass tarp
with no underlayment at all . This pool has run continuously since 1982. Was so surpised to find the tarp was still like new . .lol. Even the strangler fig was unable to penetrate it but had grown in folds both inside and out side the tarp. so some damage was done removing it.
Was going to replace it with a real liner but for 15 bucks went with another tarp. I did leave the old one in place.. . Of course I have only sand in my yard and the pool is only about 18 inches below grade. Sides are supported by stacked 4x4's.
There was almost 3 bushels of "muck " on the bottom.lol
Found an ink pen that was under the liner with 4 tons of pressure on it and not only did it not penetrate the tarp. It still worked lol.
This may be a cheap alternative for you,particularly sinc ethe pool will be temporay?? gary

Sorry I told you the wrong link it is freecycle.org
I hope you get your pond built--let us know what you end up doing. I love seeing people's ponds etc.

Wow, thank you everyone for the responses!

SCDeb, thanks, & yes I am aware of freecycle, I think I had mentioned it above. I am now just planning on going to the recycling center to get what I need newspaper wise, probably for the cardboard too. I have been scanning Craigslist and Freecycle daily for anything local I can use. So far nothing.

I was thinking maybe I could throw some old blankets in there, glad to see some of you have used that as well.

Also was thinking of using my son's old eggcrate foam padding stuff (can't think of the name right now, lol) from his old bed. Of course, the dog's found it in the bag I had it in on the bag porch and decided it would be a fun thing to chew up, lol. My luck! Is that the kind of thing you meant that you used SCDeb & Horton?

Gary, all I can say to that is..Wow! LOL!

Sandy, lol..I am in the small town around. We're just a tiny lil borough :)

A big thing for me is using things that will decompose, such as the papers and cardboard. That way when I dig up the pond, I can just bury that stuff and not have to worry about it. I try to be environmentally friendly as much as possible.

SCDeb, Here are some pix of my current pre-forms:
When I started, 4-10-08, as you can see I don't have anything in the way of a winter garden yet..gotta work on those evergreens.
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4-19-08
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This is how it looked 7-14-08

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Alot more growth since the 14th, it's amazing how fast it all grows!

I'm sure I'll be posting pix of the new one! :)

Again, thanks so much for everyone's help!

O & Horton, if your not the pond guru, your pretty dang close!

Wow! Thanks for the pics. You do have a gift for creating beauty where there was virtually nothing...that pond looks like it has been there for years and it is amazing that the plants grow so fast but obviously you are doing something right for it all to look so natural. Can't wait to see your next project.

Daniella, The Styrofoam I used as underlay material, was the sheet type that is normally used to insulate buildings.
Since you intend to bury your underlay, when you remove your liner, I would stick with materials that will break down eventually, but will not have a negative effect on the environment of the soil etc.
"Horton"

Yes Horton, I agree. If I do choose to use the foam padding..if the dogs didnt totally destroy it that is..I would def remove that and throw it in the trash before filling the hole. Would only leave behind the paper and CB to be buried.

Thank you very much SCDeb! :)
All the plants were plants I already had, and transplanted from other spots in the garden, except for a couple annuals that I bought. I just don't have any evergreens in the garden yet, Oh I have 2, lol..so winter leaves everything completely bare in my yard. Gotta work on that! Things sure do pop up quick in the spring though! The pond plants were all given to me by some generous friends here on GW. Trades and good friends are great! :)
Excuse the ugly fencing, lol..but with dogs and my youngest only being 4, it is a neccesity!
If you don't mind me asking, do you have any pix you can share? I'd love to see yours as well..and yours too Horton, and everyone else!