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Pondless Waterfall Design Ideas

Here are some ideas to help in the design of pondless waterfalls. Variations in size, the creative selection and placement of rocks, the width, placement and number of outflows from the waterfall head combine to make the possibilities endless. Use the following ideas, or combine two or more of them for another effect.

Pondless Waterfalls with Streams

The waterfall can fall into a meandering stream before disappearing into the rock bed. This gives the illusion of a natural stream with the waterfall as its source.

Cascading

Building up a series of step-like levels with dirt and rocks over which a waterfall can cascade down a slope will lengthen the waterfall. This is probably the most popular kind of waterfall design and can be combined with any number of other designs.

Vertical Waterfalls

The waterfall can fall directly from the top of a rock column into the gravel pit at its foot. Ledges from the column cause the water to splash from ledge to ledge before disappearing into the rocks. This is much like a fountain effect.

Small Backyard Waterfalls

A simple fall cascading over one or two flat rocks before it falls into the rock bed can be designed for a minimum of work and expense. A less powerful, less expensive pump than usual can be used, and a smaller reservoir would be required.

Peninsula

A wide flow of water around the edge of a raised semicircular or jutting area could produce a convex flow from around a large waterfall head, then into a stream at the base which will disappear into a rock bed.

Concave

The water can also flow in a wide flow from the edge of a wall of rock surrounding the back of the rock bed in a concave fashion for an interesting effect.

Multiple Head

Several waterfalls can be combined to make an interesting waterscape, all from water being pumped from a single powerful pump to several waterfall heads.

360-Degree Waterfalls

The wide flow concept can be extended from the convex peninsula design to flow from all around a central waterfall head into a surrounding stream which disappears into a rock bed.

Waterfall from a Pond

A novel idea creates the illusion of a waterfall originating a higher level pond. The head of the waterfall is placed at the front edge of the pond where the waterfall can then fall into a lower rock bed.

Landscaping around the Waterfall

Plants around the edge of the waterfall and even some suitable aquatic plants within the flow of the streams can be used as well as rocks to hide the edges of the liners and otherwise contribute to the beauty of the waterscape.