Waterfalls add drama and beauty to backyards.
If you are not one of the few people who own a home next to a natural waterfall, there are many good reasons to add your own. Waterfalls, whether great surges of water or tiny trickles, are all a matter of water moving from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. It is simple and mesmerizing. Does this Spark an idea?
Types
Choose a type of waterfall that complements your landscape scheme. Use the style of your home and existing plantings to decide whether you want to recreate the look and feel of a natural waterfall or combine materials, patterns and structures that defy the natural world. The benefit of a natural setting is that nature gives you a template to copy. A waterfall built from your imagination offers endless possibilities as long as you are able to translate them into a working device with a design that pleases you.
Function
Backyard waterfalls add the sound of water dropping from heights great and small. Waterfalls are an excellent way to diminish noise from neighbors or busy roads. Water will make a different sound depending on the size and shape of the container where the water lands. Waterfalls lend a distinctive look to a backyard. Position your waterfall where you can best see and hear it from several vantage points.
Materials
Some homeowners will have appropriate rocks and boulders on site to construct a natural-looking waterfall. Most homeowners will need to import at least some items from quarries or home-improvement stores. Similarly, some homeowners will be able to move plants from other parts of their property to establish a setting for the waterfall, while others will need to purchase plants from nurseries and garden centers.
Considerations
Waterfalls require varying levels of maintenance depending on their size and setting. A pump circulates water from the basin to the top level. In most cases, electricity drives the pump, in some instances, solar power can generate the necessary energy. Owners must monitor water levels and replace water lost to splashing and evaporation. Waterfalls and ponds constitute a hazard for small children and pets. Erect barriers to reduce the risks of accidents.
Tags: homeowners will, natural waterfall, plants from, will need