The spell of pond waterfalls is so strong, people
have been known to travel hundreds of miles just to see
one.
The soothing splashes and quiet gurgles
are guaranteed to enhance the mood of a garden, and that of the
gardener, too, my friend.
Not particularly crafty? Don't have
a lot of outdoor space?
No worries -- you don't need either to create small scale, big splash
magic in your own yard!
This Guide gives you the 3000 foot
overview. Then points you to a step-by-step guide that's full of
videos, pictures, waterfall design ideas, and great pond and
waterfall building information.
So use the them to create your own water
sculpture, half art half technology, and infuse your yard with
a serenity that's hard to match with any other garden feature.
What's your ideal
waterfall?
Is it
something simple with stacked stones at one end of a small
pond?
Or is it
huge and ambitious like this image?
This waterfall is way beyond
anything I could do -- or afford for that matter, but it's just so
magnificent, I thought I'd share while I had you here.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
The most common starting point
for waterfalls is somewhere on a natural incline. This is true of
garden
pond kits, small
garden ponds and larger installations.
Ready-made waterfalls make installation really
easy. And several preformed pond liners come
complete with spillways attached.
Waterfalls can also be made from simulated
rocks that look almost like the real thing especially with the
right pond
landscaping.
Why not team up a flexible pond liner with a
preformed pond liner, and use a series of spill pans made from
concrete for the falls.
Or play mix and match with any combination of
these pond waterfalls materials.
And don't forget the submersible or external
pump. You'll need at least one of these. They move the water
from the pond bottom back to the top where gravity sends it on
its way down again.
Step 1: Do the
Digging
Use the garden hose to try out different
pond shapes and pond falls placement.
Then commit to a shape and mark the pond
and falls layout with bright spray paint.
Use a shovel to dig out the space for the basin.
You can even pile up the dirt
where the waterfalls begins with the dirt you dig from the basin to
make the incline steeper.
Use rocks, concrete
blocks, or sandbags to shape the slope and water channel in a
step-like formation.
Then dig a hole in the slope for the
waterfall box.
Step 2:
Install the Liner
If you're using a performed pond liner,
you can skip this step.
Line the excavation with padded
underlayment.
Line the hole and the sloping waterfall channel
with flexible EPDM liner.
It will be easier if you put the folded liner at
the waterfall end and unfold it towards the pond end.
Allow the liner to follow the contours of the
pond.
Here's a tip you'll thank me for later:
Don't trim the edges until after your pond is
filled with water.
Step 3:
Place Large Rocks
For me, getting the boulders into place
is the toughest part of the pond waterfalls project.
You want
to dig out crevasses for the large rocks so they settle
snugly in the dirt.
Be
careful not to damage or move the liner around too
much as you put the rocks into place.
Complete
the basic structure then put secondary stones, pebbles, and
flagstones at the lip of the pond waterfall.
Light
colored rocks show up well, so lay some around the edges and
bottom of the pond as accents.
Step 4: Add the
Finishing Touches
Scatter gravel among the rocks.
I like to fill a small bucket with
rocks and just kind of slowly shake them from the bucket
letting them stay where they fall.
Now,
brush small pebbles into the spaces between rocks.
Randomly toss some cobbles into the pond to give
it a natural look.
Use a garden hose to wash the
dirt from all the rocks. Then pump the dirty water out of the pond
and refill it.
After the pond is full, it's time to trim the
liner. It's best to leave about a foot of excess at the edges
and just fold the excess under.
The liner might settle even more after a few
days, and you'll be glad you have the excess.
Now that you've got the big picture, bounce to
this step-by-step pond waterfalls guide for
how-to videos, waterfall pictures, pond waterfalls ideas, and
excellent ponding advice.
Then, all you'll need is a little pond landscaping to bring the
whole scene to life!
Have
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Easy
Outdoor Decor 
If you're using a performed pond liner,
you can skip this step.