How To Build a Waterfall
The delightful sight, sound and feel of water, so refreshing and desirable when heat and drought dominate. These elements can easily be integrated into a water-wise garden without being incongruous when done on a modest scale. Yet a serene setting with the sound of trickling water is to some very Zen. A garden is a very personal statement. It's as personal as the clothes you wear. The way you dress your garden is a reflection of your taste. So why not build a waterfall that is both beckoning and serene? Some might think filling a small pond or pool with gallons of water is wasteful, yet next to an entire landscape that is integrated efficiently and is filled with water-greedy plants, it compares most favorably. Plant your water feature with water lilies and other aquatic plants for interest and to cut down on surface evaporation. Water circulation is the key.
There are a few things you should consider prior to starting this project.
- Look into your local laws and regulations to be sure you are not looking at a battle with your neighbors or authorities. Read the town ordinances.
- Contact an electrician to place a GFI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet near the pond in order to plug-in your water pump.
- Contact your electrical company to make sure you are not digging up any electrical wiring.
- Sit down and design your garden including the plants you will use and the material you will need for the project.
Things you will need:
- Shovel
- Rocks (preferably more flat than not)
- A sump pump
- Sand
- Stiff pond liner
- Carpenter's level
- Tubing (preferably black) to run from the pump to the pot that will cascade onto the stones
- A large planter or ceramic pot to hide the tubing
Once you have an idea of where you want your waterfall to be (the closer to your windows or patio the better), make sure the area is cleared of weeds, branches or unnecessary rocks. Be certain it's a level area too. If necessary, use sand in order to level the ground. Dig a hole (depth will depend on the depth of your pond liner) where you will be placing your pond liner and make sure the area around the pond has adequate room for your aquatic plants. If you cannot estimate the dimensions visually, place the pond liner in the area and score the soil around it about 2 to 3 feet away with your shovel.
Once you have dug the right sized hole, get your rocks together and sort them by size. Start building a wall on one side of the pond. Place them from large to small in order to have an important 'trickling' effect. As previously mentioned, the flatter the rocks the easier it will be to stabilize them. (You may need to perfect this by using some shims) Make sure you leave enough room behind the rocks so that your sump pump is well hidden. You should have extra rocks (either large and flat or small and round) to lie around your pond liner in order to hide the unsightly plastic. This will give your pond/waterfall a desirable accent. How high you want this waterfall to be is up to you, but make sure there is a slight downward slant by using the flat rocks to form a continuous chute down to the pond. Now place your tubing inside the planter to allow the water to spill onto the rocks. Be certain to measure the amount of tubing you are going to use and then cut off any extra. Don't use ceramic pots for the plants that will accent the waterfall because they tend to crack. Place them at the edge of your cascading rocks with the tubing well hidden inside.
