Wonderful Waterfalls

Why adding a water element to your yard changes everything –even your mood

The soothing sound of water trickling gently in the background, be it a natural stream, a purchased water feature or a space we create ourselves, adds a sense of peace and serenity to our outdoor spaces.

The smallest apartment balcony can accommodate a fountain or bird bath and if the basin is deep enough, even goldfish. Larger ponds can be added to backyards; their shape, size, contents and surrounding adornment is limited only by the imagination.

Garden stores offer a wide variety of instant water features as well as construction materials. Mechanical necessities such as filters, pumps and heaters come in a variety of sizes, shapes and capacities, and ponds, either pre-moulded or pond liners that can be adapted to the size of hole you want your pond to fill, are readily available. Practical and/or decorative bubblers and fountainheads, along with interesting rocks and stones, complete construction.

Plants suitable for the area surrounding the pond, as well as marginals (plants that live in shallow water or boggy areas), pond plants (set into the water or floating on the surface) and fish, all bring life and colour to the pond and yard.

Airdrie residents Merrideth Ashcroft and David Staples first built their pond 14 years ago and have since increased its size and added a waterfall and rock garden. The area evolves as new and interesting rocks and plants are added each year.

“Water is very comforting and in summer, our backyard is an extension of our living area. We’re outside constantly,” says Ashcroft.

This pond, built by digging out the shape and bordering the edges with flat rundle stone to keep them from collapsing, is lined with felt, a rubber liner and another layer of felt to protect the rubber from sun damage and encourage plant growth. Another layer of rundle stone keeps the liner in place and decorative rocks and plants adorn the circumference. Well-packed earth around the pond keeps it from shifting.

The waterfall, constructed in levels, is made mainly of tufa rock, a porous stone that retains water, supports plant growth and is compatible with Ashcroft’s and Staples’ love of gardening. “You can buy tufa rock with predrilled holes for planting, which is handy,” says Staples. Alpine plants and cacti flourish, growing in and among the tiered rocks that hide a length of garden hose attached to a pump which produces a slow stream of recycled water.

The waterfall is shallow with a flat moss-covered rock placed midstream to accommodate the birds. “The past two summers we’ve even had a frog. I love that,” says Ashcroft.

“And the birds love it,” adds Staples.“We’ve had red-winged blackbirds, finches, lots of sparrows, the occasional wren and hummingbirds.”

Other types of ornamental rock that can be used for pond decoration and waterfall construction are available from commercial outlets such as Burnco Rock Products Ltd. and Blue Grass Ltd. nursery and garden centre. “There is a great variation in the size and cost of ornamental rocks so shop around to get the best price and the size you need,” says Ashcroft.

Rocks collected from other areas need to be diligently cleaned to remove pollutants, especially if the pond contains fish. The same applies to pond plants. “Don’t dig up wild plants. It disrupts the natural environment and they could contaminate your pond,” she says.

Shop for hardy, healthy plants and repot them as they grow larger.