How to Make Your Own Bird Pond Waterfall
Adding a waterfall to your existing bird pond will enhance everyone’s enjoyment whether feathered or not, and using a pre-formed waterfall makes the job easy. Pre-formed waterfalls come in two types: above-ground and in-ground. Above-ground pre-formed waterfalls are the easiest and quickest solution as most are a "plug-and-play" setup, but they have limited water volume capacity. Should you need a higher-volume answer to your waterscape, an in-ground pre-formed waterfall is the solution. Prefabricated to look like natural rock and easy to install, they are the ideal alternative to labor-intensive natural stone waterfalls or lower-volume above-ground water features. Most pre-formed waterfalls include built-in fittings and can be connected using your existing tubing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Spade
- Wheelbarrow
- Carpenter’s level
- Construction-grade sand
- Piece of lumber
- Measuring tape
- Work gloves
- Pump
Instructions
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Measure your site and your existing water feature to determine the size of your waterfall. For example, a 10-by-15-foot pond holds enough water to supply a 2-foot vertical drop and a waterfall with five to six cascades along a course of several yards. The waterfall for a smaller pond should have a vertical drop of no more than 18 inches and have fewer cascades. Pre-formed in-ground waterfalls come in a wide variety of lengths and number of cascades to accommodate an assortment of sites. Above-ground waterfalls are more limited in lengths and cascades, usually having no more than four drops.
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Buy a more powerful pump if your existing pump doesn't have enough power to supply the waterfall. Select your pump based on the total volume of water that will circulate in the water feature. Invest in the best pump you can afford. Brass, bronze, and stainless-steel models will withstand years of heavy use and are very reliable; cast-iron and aluminum pumps are usually less expensive than brass, bronze or stainless steel and are more wear-resistant than the least expensive plastic models.
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Position the pre-formed waterfall and leave it for several days so you can consider how to enhance your existing waterscape and the area surrounding your pond. If necessary, move the waterfall around a few times until you find the ideal placement. Begin preparing the site for installation once you’re happy with the placement.
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Dig a hole sufficient to accommodate the length and depth of the pre-formed waterfall plus 2 inches. Build a small rise to provide the desired incline if the area is flat, watering the hill to settle the soil before digging to ensure a stable base. Level both sides of your excavation area using the carpenter’s level astride the board, tamp the inside until you have a firm base, and line it with 2 inches of construction-grade sand.
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Set the pre-formed waterfall into place, ensuring that it overlaps the existing pond enough to help prevent water loss. Backfill around the waterfall as needed to close any gaps that might occur. Secure the waterfall to your existing pond per the waterfall manufacturer’s instructions. Connect your pump to the waterfall tubing using clamps at both ends to ensure a watertight connection. Place the pump on a cement block and position it under the lip of the waterfall. Plug in the pump.
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Alter the water flow to adjust the waterfall’s "voice." Lower the volume of water being pumped to lower the speed of the water and vice versa. Change the sound by adding or removing pond stones in and along the course of the waterfall or by changing the angle of the waterfall lip. Add a thin sheet of acrylic to the lip of the waterfall if you’d like the water to flow over the edge in a single glistening sheet.
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Tips & Warnings
If your pump doesn’t have a built-in adjustment valve, install a T-value in the pump tubing near the pump outlet.
Make an effective home-produced tamper by nailing a small plywood square (approximately 6 by 6 by 3/4 inches) to the bottom of a 2-by-4-inch-by-4-foot-length board.
Add pond stones, edging pavers, or other natural cover along the edges of your waterfall to naturalize your waterscape.
Enhance your waterscape by placing potted water plants such as the flowering rush, Siberian iris, and the pickerel weed on waterfall edges.
Magnetically driven pumps tend to have a longer life and consume significantly less energy.
Most home garden water features can use a submersible pump; for extremely large water features (more than 12,000 gallons per hour), use a non-submersible pump.
In general, the pump should move the total volume of the pond in an hour.
Consult with a water feature professional before purchasing any pump.
Check the length of the pump electrical cord to ensure the length will reach an outlet at least 6 feet away from the water. Do not use extension cords around your pond or waterfall due to the high risk of electrical shock.
Have a licensed electrician install a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) where you plan to plug in your pump if you don’t already have one.
