Large PONDLESS WATERFALL Project in RYE, NY
2 Materials
$35000
8 Days
Advanced
The old pond was lack luster for sure. The original contractor had installed a perfect circle of a pond. The way the rocks were arranged, like a necklace of boulders surrounding the water, distracted from the natural feeling they were intended to convey. The straight as a board stream stuck out like the handle on a frying pan. This only made matters worse because it already faced the neighbor’s house instead of this client’s rear deck! Everything about this feature had to change.
Discussions of where the original feature fell short of expectations helped develop a good idea of what this client really wanted to see in their backyard.
Access to this site was limited and we wanted to set some large boulders with our excavator so we were forced to work out from the corner. Building the waterfall in sections allows constant machine access without risking damage to the liner.
The top section is “Rocked in”. With boulders in place this section is ready for gravel. Notice that some has been applied as edging on the left side of the stream.
Top section are “edged and graveled”. Gravel in the stream bottom also conceals the wiring for our LED underwater lights. Notice how the edging on the right brings the land right up to the edge of the stream. Using a variety of edging techniques is key to building natural water features. The area of exposed liner will be used to create the beginning of another, smaller, stream that will wind its way through the second section and join back up with the main stream further down the line.
With the next section “lined” the two portions come together as large boulders are installed into the second section. Jimmy wipes sweat from his brow as the day comes to a close. The basin area is surrounded by caution tape to keep anyone from accidentally wandering into the hole.
This waterfall rock is back-filled with gravel. The water in the pooling area behind it will build up until it gets high enough to spill over the front of the rock and continue downstream.
A view of the pooling area from the downhill side. The waterfall rock is directly left of the stump.
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Build it and they will come. As soon as we started testing this feature we had one of the locals stop by to use the pool.
The waterfall into the pondless basin is created. Pieces of aged wood are a natural compliment to the gravel and rock landscape helping it spring to life. The bridge is dry-fitted to the stream making it easy to get nice and close to the action.
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A frog's eye view of the waterfall entering into the pondless basin.
The new water feature is being filled and tested. That black lid is the top of an easy access vault allowing monitoring of the water level in the basin. A couple rocks and some gravel blend this lid right back into the landscape.
Bringing the clients into the backyard for the first time. What a difference.
With construction finished its time to remove the excavator and grade the backyard for the new lawn on our way out. Notice Matt snapping a couple bird's eye view shots while standing on the bucket of the excavator!
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A quick clip of the finished product. A brand new backyard attraction with planting areas ready for landscaping, this oasis is well on it’s way.
Frequently asked questions
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