DIY Bird Pond Waterfall

Choose the Right Size

• Many ready-made kits are available for different designs and sizes of waterfalls, but starting from scratch can be fun and rewarding. Waterfalls should be designed to fit the size of the bird pond. Too large a waterfall can create too much splashing and noise, which will scare the birds away. Too small a waterfall will have little effect and not create enough movement to attract birds.

Choose the Right Materials

• Waterfalls are often made from natural stones or rocks, but they can also be made from materials that look more contemporary if the pond is designed with modern décor. Waterfalls can be made from plastic, concrete or brick.

Circulating the Pond Water

• The functional purpose for a waterfall to be in a pond is to circulate the water. The water is kept in the pond by using a submersible pump which takes the water from the pond to the waterfall. The waterfall then puts the water back into the pond. For a waterfall to work properly, it must not leak on the sides or back--otherwise, the water will drain from the pond. One way to prevent this is to make sure the pipe or tube from the pump goes into the waterfall adequately. If you're building a waterfall out of rock, stones, or brick, use concrete to fill in open spaces. The waterfall itself (except where the water flows into the pond) should be a closed system to prevent leaks and water loss. Use a pond liner along the path of the waterfall to prevent water seepage. This can then be hidden by covering with small stones or rocks.

  The direction of the waterfall can be set or altered by the placement of rocks, stones or bricks. If the waterfall is made from plastic, the direction is somewhat limited, but you can get creative with decorating the sides and you can add stones to the inside of the spillway to change the water flow down the plastic. Plastic waterfalls have an advantage in that they are already a closed system and there is no need for a liner.