How to Build a Backyard Waterfall

A homemade DIY backyard waterfall will add to your property landscaping like nothing else.

One size does not fit all. A permaculture perspective insists that you consider the materials available on site or the most readily available materials in your area. This will both create a feel of the feature belonging in the landscape as well as being a more sustainable use of resources. This may also dictate the overall style of the garden feature, with larger boulders, river rock, etc.. Any material excavated will be useful as well.Ultimately, every water feature should be unique to the property it sits.


2. Placement

When building a waterfall, the location of the falling water is very important. It is always better to see a water feature from as many vantage points as possible. A perfect view from the kitchen window or living room is desirable. Build your outdoor waterfall feature somewhere it will be enjoyed the most, if possible.

3. Water Will Fall

If you build a pile of stones and pump water to the top it's going to run downhill, right? Gotta love gravity.

4. Water Containment

The components of a Pond/Waterfall Kit may make a garden ponds and waterfall project easier. From there, whether pond liner or concrete/ faux stone the concept is the same. A water tight stream must be constructed. It can be as simple as laying a pond liner(20yr. warr.) over a slope with care to channel out a ditch and running it downhill. Then place stones over the entire length. Otherwise, a concrete 'stream' could be built and mortared with stones.

5. Plumbing

The most basic plumbing design includes: (1)Skimmer w/pump chamber,(2)Pump, (3)Flex line to (4)Filter-falls pour over filter.

*Highly Recommended - Skimmer/ Filter-Falls combo

6. The 'Source'

How landscaping waterfalls begin their course must be considered. I recommend installing a pour over 'filter falls' system at the top. This will be provided in a good pond-waterfall Kit. It will help polish the water as it cycles through the rock waterfall. The best filter falls will include a mechanism for biological filtration. I personally love not being able to see where the 'source' originates. Good turns and meanders help with the depth and overall feel of the garden ponds waterfall. Adding steps with small pools on the way down will add a great deal as well.

7. Stone Placement

The placement of the stone and gravel will give the backyard waterfall its final effect. If the stones are too big the water will tend to flow underneath and can't be seen. 'Black pond foam' can be glued underneath to force the pond water to the surface. Otherwise use a shallower layer of small stones or gravel to alleviate the problem. Think creak bed.

8. Other Design Elements
The amount of water that pours down your waterfall garden is important. A big flow is great, but too much can be very noisy and expensive. A simple graph called the waterfall weir chart will help in sizing the pond/waterfall pump. Be sure to consider the one third, one third, one third principle. Which is equal parts water, hardscape(rock work), and vegetation, both in and around the feature. Water plants, bog garden plants, or any backyard landscaping vegetation can be used around the feature. This will create good overall balance to any backyard waterfall / water garden.