Outdoor waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes and make for emphatic focal points.
Either way, it means a lot of work.
And it won’t be cheap, either.
The Spruce / Almar Creative
Boulders are then placed on the liner to hide it and hold it down.
Unless you’re building an outdoor waterfall of large dimensions, such work and expense are unnecessary.
One alternative is to use pre-cast concrete forms that mimic stone for the cascading structure.
But they cost money.
If you have access to natural rocks, why not take advantage of a free resource?
That’s the route we take in this outdoor waterfall project.
See if you’re able to find 25 to 30 rocks.
A mixture of sizes and shapes is fine, but include at least a few large, flat rocks.
You’ll use the sand to supply adjustable flooring for your rigid plastic pond liner.
Need more help?
This entails placing some of the bottom rocks very close to the waterfall pond.
Besides, the overhang of the waterfall structure will just be in your way while digging.
This slight elevation will minimize the problem of soil spilling into the waterfall pond.
Put thepreformed linerinto the hole for the waterfall pond.
Not even enough to suit you?
Should the pond go dry due to water loss, you’ll burn out the pump.
Consequently, you must turn off the pump overnight or when leaving your property.
Now it’s time to turn your attention to a more exciting structure: the cascade design itself.
And that means taking another look at the rocks you’ll be using.
you’ve got the option to consider using two such rocks, one above the other.
The spillway rocks should be relatively flat (as opposed to rocks that are more rounded in shape).
They should also have sharp, squarish edges.
Water will cascade more cleanly over such edges.
How you lay the spillway rocks is also important to this end, as we’ll see later.
For instance, a terracotta pot would be even better, since it provides more stability.
A crate made of rigid plastic would also work.
You’ll essentially be building four mini-rock walls around the pot, to box it in.
Disguise this plastic with rocks, so that it won’t be visible in the pond.
How far in the back of the pond should this be?
Well, that depends on the depth of your rocks.
Typically, when building rock walls, it’s a good idea to stagger the seams.
Of course, these will be verysmallrock walls, so it’s not a structural concern here.
Still, take a stab at do some staggering, if only because it looks better.
After the first course of rocks in the front, lay a long flat rock spanning them all.
Continue laying the four walls, until you’ve reached the height you desire.
Begin trying to position your first spillway rock on top of your shelf rock.
Elevate the first spillway rock in the back to achieve better water run-off.
Bend the end of the tubing down toward the pond and place one or more capstones over it.
It is under here that the waterfall’s spout, so to speak, will rest.
Begin trying to position your second spillway rock on top of your first spillway rock.
Again, elevate the rock in the back using a shim, to achieve a steeper pitch.
Again, pull to lengthen or shorten your tubing as necessary.
Tip
Using rocks of varying sizes and textures can help create a more realistic waterfall.
Fill the Pond
You’re ready to fill the pond with water.
Plug in the pump’s cord and test the flow of your natural rock waterfall.
No doubt, you’ll have to make several adjustments before you get everything right.
When undertaking projects such as building natural rock waterfalls, always keep home safety tips in mind.
Another project in which you may be interested isbuilding a small pond and using water-garden plantsin and around it.
