Create waterfall feature in your backyard

Do you have a corner in your backyard that needs a bit of sprucing up? Perhaps this might be the project for you, Rather than spend your allowance on a packaged waterfall from Home Depot that will run you in the $200-$300 mark if you buy it in the middle of summer, you might opt for something a little more unique that will cost yes less than half of the retail price. Some of the materials we used include railway ties to build a short wall, landscape ties to close off the waterfall area, one inch river rock, pea gravel, plastic sheeting, a water pump, a few 5 gallon pails and assorted rocks from a local landscaping firm. Have a gander at what we did and if you have suggestions or make one yourself, please send me a copy.

Step 1: Come up with your idea

We must have sat and looked at the pile of rocks (see picture) for AGES. All I knew was that as it was an area close to the fence in the south east corner of my yard, nothing much grew there .

Comments

[poligon00]

Actually I just purchased a new home with a lot of gardening and pond potential! I really like what you did on that corner wall but sometimes, it could be pretty difficult to find the right sized fountain to fit. Check out this site: http://www.gardenandponddepot.com

It turns out there is a huge variety on the sizes of wall fountains. Definitely something to consider imo.

[poligon00]

That looks pretty good!

[johnnyr8]

Instead of the pails, you might consider a plastic storage box, like a 30+ quart size. I make a pond with two of these several years ago, and they've held up well. (no leaks)

[artcobain]

im not old enough. im just 16 but my parents left me with an old house which i own now. i wanted to decrate it.....o_O

[Tree63Fan]

Oh, and I forgot to say you did a great job on your waterfall!!! I had to retype my comment and forgot to add that!

[Tree63Fan]

I recently added a small pond and waterfall to the backyard. The pond is a bean shaped 4ftx2ft preformed pond with one end shallow. I used the following rock: 108 lb Chilton Flagtone for the base (similar to the base stone you used above) ~300 lbs of Holey Boulders (nice for allowing moss to grow and they have lots of levels that allow for interesting water misdirection) A few Red Mica and several granite boulders. I also used a 5 gallon bucket of Jumbo river rock in addition to small river rock that I already had plucked out of my yard over the years. I wish I had a river nearby so I didn't have to buy most of the rock, but in the end the rock was under $200, and I was expecting it to cost more. I used a 450 gph pump that runs the bubbler and the waterfall. I ran 5/8" tubing. Now I need to add landscape plants, water plants and maybe some fish. The plan is to add a short Japanese Maple on the left (to add shade) and some small evergreens behind. Flowers around the other sides. Enjoy!

[fattymattybrewing]

I am thinking of installing a version of a pondless waterfall but my concern with this kind of design is that you have to do a fair amount of sifting through pea gravel to get to your pump.

[jwaterfallguy]

Hey if you're looking for a system which allows the pump to be easily accessible (for maintenance etc.) check out this site:

http://www.berkeysupply.com/vanishing-water-packages.html

The system is really nice and allows you to create something ultra-natural looking.

[Thundertydus]

Hello, I'm not very good when it comes to working with water but im working on a little miniature river that flows from one side to the other, then back to the starting side, i have two plexiglass cases i made (one for my geckos, one for my tarantula) What pump do i use? An air pump from an old aquarium? how do i set it up? please show me

[fattymattybrewing]

It looks Very nice!

[arnoldt]

What size pump did you use

[Hasersys]

Awsome i just moved up north to Illonois an my friends just purchased a new house that im going to live in with them ill show them this im sure they will love it an maybe try it out

[stranoster]

Cool indeedily. looks great, only wish I was old enough to own a yard (or indeed a house)

[supes]

Nice. I always wanted to do that...but I need a house first :)

[gruaqt]

How about an inside project?
Check this out....
http://www.serenityhealth.com/wtrwall_founts.html

[fungus amungus]

After my first semester in college I dropped out and told everyone I was going to go off and make crazy fountains and waterfalls. I even studied some awesome fountains in Japan that were like Rube Goldberg devices, but artsy. And then I went back to become a math major. So it makes me happy to see other people playing with water. Nice job.

[trebuchet03]

That looks awesome -- and documented very well :)