Greg Wittstock began building ponds as a summer job in college in the early ‘90s, today he is the founder and president of Aquascape Designs, Batavia, Illinois, the country’s largest and most innovative manufacturer of water gardening systems. At heart however, he remains a pond builder. In his opinion, a great waterfall is the heart and soul of any backyard water garden.
“The waterfall is important for both form and function,” explains Wittstock. In manmade water gardens, water is pumped over the waterfall where gravity returns it to the pond, keeping the pond moving and cool. “In a properly constructed waterfall,” says Wittstock, “the water also passes through the waterfall’s biological filters where they pick up beneficial bacteria. These help keep a water garden in ecological balance.”
Equally important, says Wittstock is the waterfall’s function as the aesthetic center and focal point of the entire pondscape. Following are some of Wittstock’s top tips for building great-looking waterfalls:
Make your waterfall fit in with the surrounding area: If the terrain of your backyard is flat, a waterfall that pops up out of nowhere will not look natural. Keep your new waterfall in scale with the surrounding terrain by building a berm around the waterfall area. The “drop” of a waterfall is the distance between where the water exits the biological filter and where it hits the pond. Several smaller drops (4- to 9-inches each) or one larger drop (no more than 18 inches) will help blend your pond and waterfall seamlessly into your landscape.
The size of the stone should be proportional to the drop of the waterfall: Some of the main rocks used to build a waterfall should be several inches larger than the drop of the waterfall. For example, for a drop of 12 inches, build the waterfall with16-inch rocks to provide the proper scale to achieve a natural effect.
Use larger rocks to “frame” the waterfalls: A waterfall will look more natural if you frame it with large boulders. As the water falls it will hit these large rocks and then find its path through the spaces between them – just as in nature.
Fewer rocks are better: Fewer rocks are better when building a waterfall. Three large stones are better than 12 small stones stacked up. In nature, it is common to see one very large stone, surrounded by few smaller ones, with the water running between them.
Add twists and turns: Be sure to build twists and turns into the waterfall and stream to add interesting views and facets. Take your time and enjoy this part – it’s fun to design and build twists and turns into a water garden stream.
Provide a room with a view: Position your waterfall to be seen and enjoyed from inside your home. No matter how much you love the outdoors, you probably spend the lion’s share of your time indoors. Too often, people make the big mistake of having their waterfall face the back of their yard.
There are no ugly waterfalls: Even “homely” waterfalls look good when there is enough water flowing over them. So, when in doubt, upsize your pump and give it a gushing, roaring “rapids” kind of feel.
Use a bio-filter unit as a base: Biological-filters are designed to provide both biological filtration and a solid base on which to build a waterfall. This isn’t an area to skimp on, because this sturdy unit provides both a platform for positioning a waterfall and the support that allows for the use of larger boulders. It also reduces the possibility of leaks.
Soften the edges: A surrounding landscape of trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers gives any waterfall area a soft, natural look while masking the basic rock and berm construction. It’s difficult to go wrong with abundant plantings lining your waterfall and stream. A well-planted background helps make a waterfall look perfectly natural and “at home” in the landscape.
Imitate nature: Take a cue from natural streams and waterfalls. That is where the greatest waterfall builders in the world get their best ideas. Visits to local and national parks and wildlife areas can provide a bottomless spring of inspiration.
