How to Build a Waterfall Feature
Building a waterfall feature for your backyard or garden can add enjoyment and ambiance that only running water can offer. Place a bench next to your new pond and waterfall so you can spend more time outside relaxing and feeling refreshed by the gurgling sound of falling water. A waterfall feature can be installed as a weekend project. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Plastic pond shell
- Rocks
- Waterfall pond pump
- Extension cord
- Lumber
- Nails
- Skill saw
- Plywood
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Design your garden pond and waterfall area. You will want to place it in a location in your yard that will not be prone to runoff, so that dirt, debris, and sediment do not clog or dirty up your pond and waterfall area. You will also want to make sure that you can reach the pump with an extension cord to your house's electrical system.
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2
Dig a hole deep enough for the pond liner. Dig an additional six inches to lay down a layer of gravel for drainage underneath and sand for leveling. Get the sand as level as possible. Use a 2x4 to scrape and level the surface of the sand. Spot check your leveling work with a carpenter's level. You will want the liner to be exposed at least four inches above the topsoil to protect it from sediment runoff.
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3
Level the pond liner by adding more sand to some areas or move sand away from other areas. You will want the liner to be level so that as much water gets cycled through the pump as possible. Having stagnant water promotes algae and mosquito infestations, neither of which are aesthetically pleasing or desirable.
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4
Place rocks or pea gravel as a barrier around the exposed lining of the pond.
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5
Construct a small wooden box where you will place the pump for the water. The box should be built out of plywood measuring at least four to five inches larger in length, width, and depth than the pump itself. Cut plywood pieces with a skill saw and nail them together. Use hinges on one of the sides to fabricate a door that can be latched shut for easy access.
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6
Build up layers of rocks and pea gravel around the wooden box to construct your waterfall feature leading back into the pond liner. The more room that your water has to fall along the waterfall area, the more brook noises will be created. Be sure to leave space for accessing the pump easily for any maintenance that you may have to do on the system. Run the "in" hose for the pump through the water fall feature and into the pond.
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Run an electric extension cord from your house to the pump. Fill the pond with water and turn on the pump.
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Tips & Warnings
Leveling the sand should not be too meticulous and time consuming. If you can get it relatively level, then check it by putting the liner in the hole to see where you need to take away more sand or put more sand in at certain spots. Chances are that the pond liner will not be perfectly level anyway.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Dutch spring garden with a pond and art decoration, Keukenhof image by e_annen from Fotolia.com
