Tips for Building a Stunning Waterfall

Ah, the beauty of a waterfall in a backyard landscape sounds simply delightful, doesn’t it? Waterfalls inspire reflection, relax and add interest and serenity to any garden. What are you waiting for?

Waterfalls may look complex, but many people are pleasantly delighted to find out that building a waterfall is actually a fairly simple do-it-yourself project.

The following tips can have your waterfall up and running in no time:

·         First things first. Your waterfall must have a pool into which it will flow. If you already have a pond, then you’re one step ahead of the game. Otherwise, you’ll need to first build a pond to accommodate your waterfall.

·         Consider the waterfall design you want to achieve, but make sure that the scale of the waterfall fits nicely with the pond size and doesn’t spoil the balance of the overall design.

·         Consider on which side of your pond you’d like to position your waterfall. Choose a spot where you can readily appreciate your waterfall, such as from inside the house or the back patio.

·         Your waterfall will have three, main components: the waterfall slope over which the water will fall, the pump mechanism that will bring the water to the top of the waterfall, and the pool into which the water will flow.

·         You have a couple of different options when erecting your waterfall slope. First, you can use dirt to create a mound (if you are constructing a pond at this time, you can simply use the soil from your pond excavation). You can also save yourself a lot of time and work by purchasing a fiberglass unit which will act as your slope.

You may also choose to utilize a pre-cast concrete form which mimics stone for an even easier waterfall construction.

·         Your next step is to use rocks of varying sizes to build your waterfall façade. You have two different options here as well. You can first situate a pond liner on your slope before laying the rocks, or you can form a concrete stream of sorts by mortaring the stones into place.

·         A general rule of thumb for rock placement is to place a layer of small stones or gravel under the larger stones to help bring the water to the surface. Otherwise, the water will likely run behind the large stones, defeating your waterfall vision.

·         Use spillway rocks at the top of your waterfall, where the water will flow out from. Think of constructing more than one layer of spill rocks to add dimension and interest to your waterfall. Ideal spillway rocks are generally flat in shape, as the water flows better off of a flat rock than a rounded one.

·         Use a terra cotta pot in your pond to hold the pump’s tubing in place.

·         Make a small trench underneath the waterfall’s rocks for the placement of the pump’s tube. This will ensure that the rocks won’t crush the tubing and prevent the flow of water.

·         Install a biological filter at the top of the waterfall and disguise it underneath the rocks. A biological filter will clean the water before it flows out of the waterfall.

·         The size of your waterfall pump will depend on the height and width of the waterfall. Design your waterfall before purchasing your pump.

·         Hire a qualified electrician to install a GFCI outlet near your waterfall for your electrical connection.

·         Check the level of the water periodically to prevent the pump from burning out.

If this sounds a bit complex, or if you are busy with your schedule, then the best option is to hire a professional contractor, who can both design and build the perfect waterfall for your home and yard.