Affordable Ways to Create Outdoor Waterfalls

David Beaulieu is a seasoned landscaping professional and plant photographer, boasting two decades of expertise in his field.

Project Summary

• Overall Duration: 24 hours

• Proficiency Level: Expert

When designing outdoor waterfalls, it’s essential to focus on two main components: the basin where the water collects and the waterfall structure itself. The waterfall structure can be the more challenging aspect to construct, but it’s possible to create it in a straightforward and cost-effective manner. Utilizing rocks, which many homeowners may already have in their yards or can easily acquire, is a key part of this process. After establishing these two components, a pump will be needed in the basin to continuously circulate water from the pond to the top of the waterfall, allowing it to cascade back down into the pond.

Outdoor waterfalls are available in various designs and sizes, serving as striking focal points in any landscape. When considering your design possibilities, the primary factor to keep in mind is how to achieve the desired height for the waterfall. Landscape designers often take advantage of existing slopes on the property, or, in cases of flat terrain, they may construct a berm, which is an artificial incline, to create a suitable backdrop for the pond. This process can be labor-intensive and costly. When constructing substantial outdoor waterfalls, a flexible liner is essential to be laid on the ground, connecting the waterfall to the pond to direct the flow of water. Large boulders are then strategically placed on the liner to conceal it and keep it in place.

If you’re not creating a large outdoor waterfall, the associated work and costs may not be justified. In fact, many homeowners with limited landscaping space often favor a smaller waterfall, especially if it produces the calming sound of water splashing. One option is to utilize pre-cast concrete molds that resemble stone for the waterfall’s design. These are space-efficient and straightforward to set up, as they can be easily stacked along the pond’s edge. However, they do come with a price tag. If you have access to natural stones, why not utilize this cost-free option? This is the approach we have chosen for this outdoor waterfall project.

An additional option, if your main interest is simply the sound of flowing water rather than an authentic waterfall, is to create a fountain using a series of cascading clay pots.

You can purchase the necessary pump, tubing, and sturdy pond liner for constructing backyard waterfalls at large hardware stores. Additionally, it’s advisable to acquire a flower pot, which will be explained further in the article.

Try to gather between 25 to 30 stones. A variety of sizes and shapes is acceptable, but make sure to have several larger, flat stones. Since this is a dry wall project, having flatter stones is beneficial as they are easier to secure. The sand will serve as a base to create a level surface for your rigid plastic pond liner. Additionally, a carpenter’s level will be useful to ensure your pond liner is properly positioned and level within its designated area.

Prior to Getting Started

Prior to commencing any excavation for outdoor waterfalls, ensure that a licensed electrician sets up a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet in proximity to the planned pond and waterfall, if one is not already in place. Additionally, contact the Dig Safe hotline to confirm that your digging activities will not interfere with any underground utility lines.

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Requirements You’ll Need

Devices / Instruments

• Carpenter’s tool for leveling
• Shovel
• Watering hose

Materials

• Rocks
• Underwater pump
• Hose connecting the pump to the summit of the waterfall.
• A sizable plastic planter (or something comparable) designed to hold tubing.
• Stiff pond membrane
• Sand
• One black plastic liner measuring 4 feet by 3 feet.

Instructions

Excavate the Water Body

Begin by digging the hole for your liner installation. A straightforward method for guiding your shovel is to place the liner upside down on the ground at the desired pond location and outline the circle. Focus on constructing the waterfall pond first, as the rocks for the waterfall will need to be positioned to overhang the pond. This means placing some rocks at the pond’s edge. If you were to build the waterfall first and then dig the pond, you risk destabilizing the rocks. Additionally, the overhang could obstruct your digging efforts.The hole for your waterfall pond should be approximately the same depth and diameter as your preformed liner. If the hole is too large, you can easily fix this by adding sand. In fact, it’s advisable to shovel sand into the hole’s bottom, as it provides a flexible base, allowing you to adjust the liner’s height. Aim for about an inch of sand at the bottom, ensuring the liner’s edge is slightly elevated above the ground. This elevation will help prevent soil from entering the pond.Next, place the preformed liner into the hole and check for levelness using a carpenter’s level, both from front to back and side to side. If it’s not level, remove the liner and adjust the sand until you achieve the desired level.Before you proceed to the waterfall structure, it’s important to think about ways to reduce water loss from the outset. Regardless of your efforts, it’s wise to periodically check the water level in your pond. If the pond dries up, it could damage the pump, so be sure to turn it off at night or when you’re not at home. If you’re looking to save on electricity, it’s a good idea to unplug the pump when you’re not around, as this water feature is meant for aesthetics and relaxation, not for keeping fish or koi. Therefore, it’s unnecessary to keep it running when you’re not there to enjoy it.

Construct the Waterfall

With the pond finished, you can now focus on the more thrilling aspect of the project: the cascade design. This involves reevaluating the rocks you plan to use, particularly the crucial spillway rocks, which are the stones that the water will flow over. You might want to use two rocks, stacked one on top of the other, to create two distinct levels of waterfalls, enhancing the visual appeal. It’s essential that the spillway rocks are relatively flat, as opposed to more rounded stones, and that they feature sharp, angular edges. This design allows water to flow more smoothly over the edges. If the rocks are rounded and blunt, water can trickle back underneath, diminishing the cascading effect and causing water loss that prevents it from falling directly into the pond. Therefore, the goal in selecting spillway rocks is to find those that will effectively direct the water in the desired path. The arrangement of these rocks is also crucial, which will be discussed later.In addition to flat rocks with sharp edges, look for stones that are slightly cupped. The flower pot will serve as the container for the tubing within the cascading waterfall structure. You can use other materials that might be more suitable; for example, a terracotta pot would offer better stability, and a sturdy plastic crate would also be effective. The purpose of this container is to secure the tubing as you arrange the rocks around it. This container will be concealed within the rock structure, as you will create four mini rock walls around it. It’s advisable to create a small trench for the tubing to rest in, preventing the rocks from compressing it. This will allow you to adjust the tubing’s height as needed, as you may not determine the desired water height until the rocks are in place.After placing the initial layer of rocks in the front, cover them with a 4-foot by 3-foot sheet of black plastic. Position one end of the plastic to reach the top of the pot and tuck the other end over the pond liner and into the water. Conceal this plastic with rocks to keep it hidden from view. This economical plastic serves as a substitute for the more costly flexible pond liner that might be used for a larger cascade, although you can use it if it fits your budget. The plastic’s purpose is to capture more water than the rocks alone would, directing it into the pond. Much of the water that would splash out will hit the plastic and flow back into the pond. After placing the initial layer of rocks and the black plastic, place a long, flat rock on top of the plastic, spanning the rocks below.

Position the stones and handle the piping.

Turn the flower pot upside down and thread your tubing through the hole at the bottom. Set the pot down (still upside down) at the center of the area designated for the rock waterfall. The distance from the back of the pond will depend on the depth of your rocks. The rocks facing the pond should touch the water’s edge and, if possible, slightly extend over it. For instance, if the rocks you plan to use are 8 inches deep (from front to back), the front of the pot should be positioned about 8 inches from the pond’s edge. When constructing rock walls, it’s generally advisable to stagger the seams. Although these will be small walls and not a structural issue, staggering will enhance the visual appeal. After laying the first row of rocks at the front, place a long, flat rock across them. This rock will create an overhang and is crucial for your waterfall design. Use it as a shelf to position your first spillway rock (as described below), ensuring it overhangs the pond even more. Continue to build the walls until you reach your desired height. After encasing the pot with the walls, place two longer stones across the top (either front-to-back or side-to-side) to connect the walls. If needed, pull the tubing up for more length and gently secure it between these two longer stones. Start positioning your first spillway rock on the shelf rock, ensuring it extends over the pond more than the shelf rock (ideally, the tip should align with the pond’s center, though this can be challenging). Raise the back of the first spillway rock for improved water flow. You can use shims (small flat stones) to elevate this or any rock in the wall. Bend the tubing’s end down toward the pond and place one or more capstones over it. This is where the waterfall’s spout will be positioned. The capstone should partially conceal the tubing and gently press it down against the second spillway rock (which is not yet in place). Ensure the capstone’s weight is primarily on the rocks between which the tubing is secured (or on shims) to prevent the tubing from being crushed. You will need to adjust the spout’s height as you fit the second spillway rock. Start positioning the second spillway rock on top of the first one, again using a shim to elevate the back for a steeper angle. You can visualize the two spillway rocks as shingles on a roof, where the top one overlaps the bottom, creating a continuous flow for the water. The tubing’s end, which forms the spout, can now be more accurately positioned as you align it on the second spillway rock. Adjust the tubing length as needed.

Tip

Incorporating rocks with different sizes and textures can enhance the authenticity of a waterfall.

Refill the Water Body

It’s time to fill the pond with water. Connect the pump’s cord and check the flow of your natural rock waterfall. You may need to make several tweaks to achieve the desired effect. The goal is to have the water cascade as close to the center of the pond as possible to reduce water loss from splashing. Keep in mind that your waterfall design may require some trade-offs: while a taller waterfall creates a more striking visual effect, it can also lead to increased water loss due to more intense splashing. When working on projects like natural rock waterfalls, always prioritize safety at home. You might also consider another project, such as creating a small pond and incorporating water-garden plants in and around it.