Envision a Backyard Waterfall

This picture is great example of a garden waterfall easily built, by using the excavated dirt taken from the pond site and creating a gently sloping berm.
Please note that the berm was not totally covered with rocks, just enough to line the falls.
The plants that you choose to plant around the garden ponds waterfalls will soften the impact of the berm.
What you don’t see in this picture is the deck that wraps around the home.
This water garden is very close to that deck allowing a spectacular view of not only the pond but the garden waterfall as well.
Adding a waterfall will oxygenate your pond naturally. The steady turbulence created by the falling water will draw oxygen from the air and infuse it into the pond water.
To prevent water loss between the rocks, use a waterfall foam to seal the spaces between the rocks, allowing the water to flow over the rocks only. A liner placed underneath the rocks will also help to keep the water in your pond. The liner should be placed in such a way as to create a trough, so that if water does seep in between the rocks, it will be re-cycled back into the pond. This liner should also overlap the pond liner so that it will shed water back into the pond.
For more information on building a waterfall, see our page on waterfall construction. This page shows how to build a waterfall using a "filter fall".
You can find more helpful information at Water Garden Waterfall, along with some design tips.
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Visual effect and audio effect are a big part of a successful waterfall!

The picture below is a great example of how the surroundings can create an ampitheater to enhance the sound of a garden ponds waterfalls.
Sound is determined by a number of factors:

Volume or flow of water

Distance or height of the fall

Surroundings of the waterfall

Keep everything in proportion.

Don't overwhelm your pond.

Know what you want from your creation.

How intricate do you want to make your backyard waterfall?

Example: 1 or 2 or 3 tiers.

Use of excess dirt taken from the excavation of your pond can be used to create a natural berm or hillside. This works better than a pile of rock-spewing water.

Don't try to create Niagara Falls in a puddle or pre-formed pond.