What products do you need for a backyard pond with a waterfall feature?

Answer

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/projects/water_pond.shtml  for a basic pond without waterfall.  A Step-by-step guide and material list. (BBC web site) 

For a waterfall, add to that list a bit more liner to line your stream (if you are having one) a suitable pump (eBay is good for these price-wise) and pipe and electrical supply for your pump. remember it is VITAL not to cut corners by not using underlay - the pond wieghs VERY heavy when full of water, and will settle onto any buried stones over time. Miss your liner out (if using butyl or similar flexible material) and you'll regret it - guaranteed.

You could of course buy a ready-made rigid pond liner, but this limits your size and shape choices (big ones are difficult to transport too), but they give you almost instant results and can be moved if you move house and wnat to take it with you.

The waterfall can be (like mine) fed via a submerged pump, into a box filter, which flows out into a 3 foot "stream" which then drops over a waterfall about 10" high, along about another foot, then drops about another 6" into the pool. You can buy solid ready made glass Fibre waterfalls  , but in my opinion they don't look very natural, I think it's better to use a flexible liner and then lay flat stones to cover it and give the look of a natural stream. Having flat stones overhanging causes the water to fall in "sheets" which makes a lovely effect when lit from underneath.

If you are not having too many fish in the pond and are on a budget, you could do without the filter, but I would always advise a filter as it keeps the water clean from dust etc.  

You could of course just have the pump running to a pipe into a water feature such as a statue like er, this: http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/belgian-water-feature-p-1502.html   or more classic like: http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/dolphins-spitter-garden-water-feature-p-83.html  -  theres a huge choice.

Ponds are lovely additions to a home. Sitting by mine is the sunshine, with fish, frogs etc and the sound of falling water is lovely.

• Do rivers flow up mountains?
• How do you locate a leak in a large earthen pond?
• What is the volume when the width is 3ft the length is 5ft 2in and the depth is 17.2 in?