How to Build a Waterfall
How to Build a Waterfall?
A waterfall imparts a serene, stimulating, invigorating and refreshing ambience to any landscape. The sight and sound of cascading water generates a soothing, calming and relaxing effect. The good thing about waterfall is that it can be easy created and that too inexpensively. Here is a step-by-step procedure to create a waterfall in your garden.
- For the waterfall different materials can be used like rocks, concrete and pre-formed units made of plastic, glassfibre, cement or re-constituted stone. Pre-formed units of glassfibre are usually preferred because they are light-weight, available in a wide variety of shapes, and they have the appearance of natural rocks. Pre-formed units of cement and re-constituted rocks are also good, but they are associated with lime seepage problem. Plastic pre-formed units are also good, but they are very light in weight and also require a lot of camouflage. Thus, glassfibre pre-formed units are the best.
- The first thing that you need to do is to select a location for the pond and waterfall in your garden. If the pond is already there, then all you need to do is to start creating the waterfall. We assume that there is pond in your garden. Now for the waterfall, you have to build a mound of soil that gradually slopes down towards the edge of the pond.
- In the mound, dig out some soil to create a level pocket for the base of each pre-formed unit. Set each unit in such a manner that they are properly aligned and the pre-formed lips of the units overlap.
- Once, all the units have been installed test them with the help of the water hose. Accordingly adjust the levelness and tilt of each unit. Check out to see whether the water flows down centrally and there is no seepage in the regions where the units overlap. To maintain the alignment, you can also build temporary stakes on the outer edge of each pre-formed unit.
- Remove the units after numbering them so that you know their exact location on the mound. Place the submersible pump into the pond and attach the water hose.
- Over the time, soil will settle down; for this reason it is essential to keep the pre-formed units about 1-inch higher than one another. Sand can be used to provide 1-inch cushioning. If more than 3 units are used, then plastic liner becomes essential. Lay down the plastic liner such that there is 2 to 3 feet overlap. This is also the time to place the pump hose along one side of the pocket for pre-units.
- Mix cement and place a small amount of it at the bottom of the impression of each pre-formed unit. Replace the units carefully. Once again check the slope and levelness with the help of pump hose and submersible pump. Allow the cement to dry.
- Remove all the soil packs and temporary stakes around each unit. Trim down excess liner and camouflage with stones, gravel, boulders and plants. Your waterfall is ready to enhance the beauty of your garden.