How To Add Drama To Waterfalls
For many homeowners, having a small waterfall that dribbles gently into a pond or pool is enough to satisfy their need to watch the interaction of water and gravity. But for others, thats just not enough drama. Some of us like to make more of a splash. The #1 way to do this is by making the waterfall as high as possible. The ones pictured below arent competing with Angel Falls for the title of tallest waterfall in the world, but theyre pretty impressive anyway.
Reach for the Sky
This ones a full 15 high. There are highway overpasses shorter than that!
The open archway design adds a cool optical effect by making it look like the water is just appearing out of thin air. The blend of red brick, river stone, flag stone, and quarried rock gives this hardscape feature the look of a 19th century industrial structure thats been abandoned and overgrown.
Heres another 15 footer that feeds into a private pond (that those of us who are water deprived would call a small lake). The design here isnt fancy. Its just the sheer force and volume of the flowing/falling water that make it impressive:
Break it Up
Another feature youll notice in the most dramatic waterfalls is that they are usually multi-tiered. If youve got an actual stream on your property, you can really take this to the next level or to as many levels as you want. Heres a stair-stepped water feature that connects a stream with a pond full of Koi:
The final touch for any waterfall is the surrounding landscaping. Foliage should cover up any of the mechanical accoutrements that pump and filter the water. Just remember to leave some bare rock to stand on so you can get close enough to do maintenance as needed. Heres an excellent balance of plants and rocks: