Tree roots can damage pond liners—but there are things you can do to prevent this from happening. Start by choosing a strong liner that will naturally resist punctures. This will not only protect the liner from roots, but also from sharp stones and other objects that can damage it. It’s also wise to keep your pond far enough away from trees that the roots can’t interfere with the liner. This has the added advantage of making excavation much easier since tree roots are hard to dig through.
If, however, you want to provide shade for fish or a place for livestock to get a bit of shade near to the pond, then there are a couple of things you can do to have both your trees—and an undamaged pond liner. For starters, choose tree species based on root growth habits. Avoid those that tend to produce enormously large or invasive root systems, and avoid species that create new sprouts via root suckers. You can also bury root barriers at the planting site when you plant the trees to keep roots confined so they don’t interfere with your pond’s liner.
