How to Create an Outdoor Waterfall
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An outdoor rock waterfall adds interest to a pre-existing flower bed.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
Pick a location to install your waterfall. The location you select should be flat, have good drainage and be close to water and electrical sources. Place all of the needed tools and materials at the location you select. - 2
Digging the hole a little deeper than the bucket allows room for overflow drainage.Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Measure the 5-gallon bucket using a measuring tape. Dig a hole for the bucket in the selected location. The hole needs to be 3 inches deeper and 2 inches wider than the bucket. Test-fit the bucket in the hole and adjust the hole as needed. - 3
Gravel allows water to flow through, helping prevent a flood if the waterfall overflows.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
Shovel 4 inches of gravel into the bottom of the hole. Place the bucket in the hole for a test fit. The rim of the bucket should be about 1 inch above ground level. Add more gravel if needed. Pack damp sand in the hole around the bucket to hold it in place. - 4
A metal grate placed on top of the water bucket prevents large debris from falling into the bucket.Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
Cut a 1- by 1-inch dip out of the rim of the bucket with a jigsaw. This will leave a place for the water-delivery tube and electrical cord for the pond pump to pass. Cut a metal grate to fit on top of the bucket using a jigsaw. - 5
Pick a grounded electric outlet to plug the pump into.Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
Place the pond pump inside the bucket. Thread the water-delivery tube and the electrical cord through the dip cut in the previous step. Place the end of the electrical cord near a grounded electrical source. Fill the bucket with water. Plug the pump in to be sure it works. Unplug after checking. - 6
The flat rocks allow water to flow off them and into the bucket.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Pick the largest flat rock you have and set it to one side of the bucket. Place a second rock on top of the first rock so that it overlaps the rim of the bucket by several inches. Stack the remaining rocks on top of the second rock in a staggered manner to create a waterfall look. Dump a small cup of water down the rocks to make sure the water will flow directly into the bucket. Adjust the rocks as needed. - 7
Decorative round stones help add to the appearance of the waterfall.NA/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
Place the end of the water-delivery tube at the top of the stack of rocks and plug in the pump. Adjust the water flow rate to get the desired water flow down the waterfall. Cover the water tube with small, round stones. This will conceal and hold the water tube in place. Place the remaining stones on top of the metal grate to hide the bucket.
