| A well designed natural garden waterfall looks and | | | | slanting face at an angle and a little convex |
| sounds wonderful. Designing a garden water fall is | | | | bottom surface near the front edge. Water |
| easy to get wrong. If you follow the specific | | | | performs best on this stone as it reaches the |
| principles to build your garden waterfall, it is easy | | | | edge, it runs down the face shortly and falls |
| to create functional and aesthetic garden | | | | directly into the pool instead of going backward, |
| waterfalls. | | | | sideward, or under it. This happens with any type |
| In this article, you will learn some of the most | | | | of rock especially when the water flows lightly. It |
| important design elements for creating marvelous | | | | is best to select the right shapes and sizes for |
| waterfalls. But first and foremost, lets look at the | | | | your garden waterfalls from a reputable stone |
| things you would need to create your wonderful | | | | yard. Natural effect of the waterfall is derived by |
| garden waterfall. | | | | using stones that are weathered. |
| You will need the following materials: | | | | Arranging of Stones: It is best to look at and |
| 1.) River worn stones, rocks of different sizes and | | | | observe existing natural falls or well-built |
| shapes | | | | man-made waterfalls in botanical gardens or |
| 2.) Rigid pond liners | | | | photos. Position the stones taking a look at the |
| 3.) Tubing to run from pump to the top of the | | | | effect after each stone is placed, putting the |
| waterfall | | | | stones from the bottom to the top of the |
| 4.) Level used by carpenters to determine the | | | | waterfall. The stones must appear at a level with |
| correct level of construction | | | | a series of flat slabs stepping down one beneath |
| 5.) Submersible pump | | | | the other, the stone beneath protruding out |
| 6.) Garden hose | | | | further than the one on the top. This is the best |
| 7.) Large plastic flower pot or any similar container | | | | way to do it. It is not good to see a waterfall |
| to house the tubing and hide it from view | | | | that seems to be leaning forward because of too |
| 8.) Shovel | | | | much slope to the rocks to ensure a good flow |
| 9.) Sand | | | | into the pond. Larger boulders added to the sides |
| Consider two main structures in constructing a | | | | of the waterfall serve as support and help control |
| garden waterfall. These are the pool or pond | | | | spillways of the water. Smaller rocks are always a |
| where the water will fall and the slope where the | | | | part of a natural waterfall; arrange smaller round |
| cascading water will actually run from the fall on | | | | rocks of different sizes at the sides of the larger |
| its way to the pool. The slope must be a higher | | | | boulders to cover the spaces and your |
| structure behind the pool. Pre-cast forms are | | | | construction is complete. |
| available that will allow you to construct an artificial | | | | Managing Size and Flow: The size of both the |
| slope if there isn?t any natural slope in your yard. | | | | waterfall and the pond must be in proportion with |
| Here are the four most important techniques to | | | | each other. The amount of water that flows out |
| construct your garden waterfall! | | | | into the pool should be in proportion with the size |
| Rock formation Area: Preparing the area with | | | | of the pool. If a lot of water is flowing into a small |
| well-placed rocks makes all the difference when it | | | | pool, it would look disproportionate. However, a |
| comes to designing a well-build fountain. Rocks will | | | | large pond with a small stream of water is |
| have to be placed in such a way that they are | | | | acceptable. By nature ponds are formed by small |
| both above and below the water source. Water | | | | streams of water continuously flowing over a long |
| will flow over the rocks towards the pool below, | | | | period. |
| or from one rock to another running over the | | | | In home-made ponds the full volume of water |
| surface before flowing into the pool. If you want | | | | must circulate at least once every two hours. The |
| the water to run under the rocks, the area | | | | pump used determines the volume of water, the |
| around the waterfall structure must be in a slope | | | | distance and height where the water is pumped, |
| towards the pool and all the surrounding area | | | | and the diameter of the hose through which the |
| covered with liner. This prevents the water from | | | | water flows. The pump comes with a feature |
| finding its way outside the structure; that will drain | | | | where you can regulate the outflow of water. |
| the pool. Liner used under the pool does not | | | | Use the pump properly to prolong its life. |
| necessarily need to be same as that used under | | | | To learn more about creating your water |
| the waterfall. What matters here is that it will | | | | features, look into the reference book "Water |
| prevent water from running under it. | | | | Features For Small Gardens: From Concept To |
| Selecting Rocks and Stones: There are rocks with | | | | Construction" by a celebrated designer Keith |
| irregular edge that will serve as a natural passage | | | | Davitt. This article references a lot of material |
| for flowing water. They provide good effects to | | | | from of this awesome book by Mr. Davitt. |
| flowing water but only few are convinced to use | | | | Planning to construct a garden waterfall is |
| them. River stones that are flat are already | | | | interesting and it will add beauty to an existing |
| water worn and best for man-made waterfalls. | | | | garden. To get the most out of it intense and |
| But not all river flats are applicable. A good one | | | | thorough study is necessary so that it will work |
| must have a slightly concave upper surface that | | | | well and provide satisfying effects . . . pleasing to |
| slopes downward to the front and downward | | | | the eyes and soothing to the ears. |