Steps to build a waterfall

To build a waterfall was one of my major motives when I decided to create a backyard water feature and fernery. The images of water emerging high from rocks and falling through the air to splash into a pond or onto more rocks in my own backyard was my inspiration.

Now that I have collected most of the raw materials it is time to create the more detailed design and then to build the waterfall.

The maximum height that I can have the water falling from was determined by:

• my desire to have good visual and 'sonic' splash
• the size of the supporting structure which increases with height
• the flow that could be supplied by my pond pumps

In the end it was resolved by making a temporary support for both the spout pond and a flexible water pipe and hooking it up with my water pump run from an extention lead. By doing this I was able to observe my pump could produce an adequate flow for good effect at a height about 1.9 m (6 feet) above the natural ground level. I could gain extra waterfall height by lowering the pond that it is falling into, but this would also mean lowering all subsquent levels in my other ponds.

I am keen to use the smallest of the three fiberglass ponds that I have sourced through freecycle as the very top water supply above the waterfall. This pond has been molded with an inbuilt overflow which will be ideal for a 'spout'. The water will fall directly into the largest of the fiberglass ponds.

The splashing and evaporation will require my recirculating system to be topped up. I've chosen to do this by connecting a pipe from my header tank that will emerge from part way up the surrounding rock wall so that the extra water will cascade over these rocks.

I need to also build a supporting structure for this 'top pond' that will not only hold it in place but will camouflage the incoming pipes from the header tank. This structure will also provide some support for the rocks, plants and logs that will surround the falling water and hide other water pipes and electrical conduit.

Two old treated pine posts plus some discarded steel mesh forming a shell which leans back onto my garage wall work well when concreted in place. The hole for the bottom pond is dug out, the pond positioned in sand in the hole and then edge rocks are placed around it. Larger 'foundation' rocks are then placed at the base of the supporting structure. As I continue to build the wall, I am also incorporating some old logs and 'pockets' to plant ferns (particularly epiphytes). If the rocks are placed carefully it will not be necessary to concrete them in position.

To learn more about other water features for indoor and garden return from build a waterfall to water features