Category: Gardening

Having a waterfall in the garden pond can greatly enhance the beauty of the environment. Also it can add a sense of serenity to the overall mood of the garden..

There are a few considerations to take before taking on the project:

1. Consider the size of the waterfall in relation to the overall sized of the pool or pond

A common mistake is to build waterfalls that are too large for a pond. A large waterfall will look unbalanced and in-proportionate. The breadth of the waterfall should be in proportion to the overall size of the pond. Typically, a 12 by 14 feet long pond should accomodate a waterfall no larger than 2 feet in width.

2. Type of waterfall construction

This is one of the most important consideration. Basically there are 2 main ways to build a waterfall:

1. Fibreglass constructed unit.

You can buy it off the shelf or get someone to customise built it.

2. Liner with appropriate rock placement, forming a waterfall

In either way, you will have to apply manual labour by shovelling to craft the shape of the pond and waterfall.

3. How to transporting water to the top of the waterfall

How do you bring water to the top of the waterfall? Basically you will need a water-pump. The power of the waterpump is very crucial. Normally a submerged powerhead is used. An underpowered one may not have enough power to bring water up a certain height. An over-powered one may over-siphon water from the pond.

There are several point to take note when decided on the water pump to buy:

1. Try to get power heads or water pumps that are completely submerged within the water. There have been cases of overhead pumps (that are not submerged in water) catching fire and burn!

2. Another consideation is ease of maintanance. Get one that is easy to maintain, unless you have lots of time to spare.

4. Water condition and clarity

A biological filter is need to keep the water condition good and clear for aquatic lifes. There are many types of biological filters. Some are submerged under a layer of gravel while others can run through various filtration media. It is advisable to consult the dealer.

Constructing the waterfall

This description pertains to the construction of the waterfall using the liner method (refer to Type of waterfall construction).

Firstly, using the shovel, form the shape of the waterfall and dig out the channel. Once this is done, it is time to fit the liner. When the liner is in place, put rocks. Remember to use only rocks that will not change the water PH or chemistry. Marble, granite should be OK. Arrange the rock for the optmum water flow and aesthetic appeal. Once you have finalise with the rock layout, you can apply black waterfall foam to seal the rocks. This will prevent water from flowing underneath the rocks.

Please remember take into consideration the installation of the water pump and filteration systems, before embacking to build and arrange for the waterfall. In many case, depending on the type of filteration and pump used, you may have the line these equipment in a correct sequence of the waterfall construction process.

Once all this is done, it is time to enjoy the fruits of your passion and labour.

Hope that this article has been useful. Thank you for reading.