Backyard Waterfall Basics
August 4th, 2008
Filed in Water Gardening
Tags: aquatic plants, garden planning, pond, waterfall
Stop Farming Mosquitoes: Build a Garden Waterfall
Garden ponds create a tranquil space within any backyard garden. In order to keep your garden from becoming a mosquito factory, you need to build movement into the water. What better way than building a garden waterfall? It is easier than it sounds, and your pond will be healthier for it.
Waterfalls keep pond water oxygenated, which helps plants growing in the water. Waterfalls also keep water moving, which is essential to avoid producing mosquitoes. (Did you know that one lady mosquito can produce 2,000 baby mosquitoes during one season?) Water movement also helps avoid growth of certain types of algae.
Garden Waterfall Basics
Garden waterfalls require pumps and filters, along with other equipment. As a novice waterfall builder, it is a good idea to buy a waterfall kit that provides the basics. The size of the pump and the filter (and therefore your choice of waterfall kit) will depend on how large your pond is, and how much water you want to move. A chart called the “waterfall weir chart” will help you determine the pump size. When calculating the size of the pump you need, you must consider the amount of water, the distance and the width of the waterfall.
A good rule of thumb for designing a waterfall is to use the third/third/third rule. Use one third water, one third hardscape (rocks) and one third plants to complete your design. You can artfully place rocks and stones in the waterfall to influence the way the water spills and splashes down to the pond.
Backyard waterfalls are aesthetically pleasing and calming. Not only do they add an extra dimension to your garden, they also function as a natural system to keep your garden pond healthy without the addition of chemical treatments.
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