The Perfect Garden Pond Waterfall

A waterfall beside your pond takes a beautiful piece of outdoor space and adds its own special type of magic. Whether or not the garden pond contains fish and other wildlife, a waterfall helps it to seem even more realistic, and the sound of the water splashing over the rocks and into the waiting pond makes stress instantly melt away. Creating a garden pond waterfall is not difficult if you have the right tools and a little creativity.

Building the Waterfall

The first step in creating a waterfall for your pond is figuring out how you will elevate the waterfall. Most pond owners use rocks to build up a side of the pond. The rocks serve as the base for the waterfall, and also give it some definition as the water cascades down the ledges and crevices created by the rock wall. Keep in mind that the larger the distance the water falls, the louder the sound from the waterfall will be. Use a garden hose and a bucket to determine the sound you want.

Remember to plan for the tubing as you build the waterfall itself. Consider placing a plastic flowerpot in the center of the rock construction. Create a small trench under the rocks at the bottom of the design to give you a place to feed the tubing when you are ready for that part of the project.

As you build the base for your waterfall, make sure it is not too large for the pond. In general, the surface area of the pond (measured in square feet) needs to be 1 ½ times the area of the waterfall. To find the area of the waterfall, multiply the planned height and width. Make sure it is not too large for your pond.

If using rocks to build the waterfall, create a spillway, which is the path the water will follow when running back into the pond, using stair-stepped rocks. Use relatively flat rocks with sharp edges to create a more beautiful spillway, and put some distance between them to give the water a gradual path back to the pond. When you are done building the structure, place two larger rocks over the top to hide the flowerpot, and feed the tubing through those rocks.

Pumping the Water

Once you have the structure in place, it is time to get the water to the waterfall. Purchase a submersible pump and place it in the water. Feed the tubing through your waterfall structure if you have not already done so. Connect the tubing and start the pump. When the water is running, adjust the height of the tubing at the top of the waterfall until the desired affect is created.

Maintaining the Pump

One of the most important things to do when running garden pond waterfalls is checking the water level regularly. Waterfalls often lead to water loss, as some water is lost to the outside environment through the process of pumping it up and cascading it down the waterfall into the pond. If the water level gets too low, you will burn out your pump. Keep your pond filled. Also, unplug the waterfall when you are not enjoying your pond. This will extend the life of the pump and cut down on wasted electricity.