Hardy Northern Grown Perennials For The Discerning Gardener
build a waterfall, waterfall weir, diy waterfall

Garden Article:

You can create a soothing waterfall in your garden in a just a weekend.

Learn all about how to install and build a waterfall, waterfall filtration systems and waterfall weirs.


Bring a sense of vibrancy and life to your garden by adding a waterfall, pond or stream. The soothing sound of a cascading waterfall can transform any garden area into a focal point for entertaining and relaxing. Waterfalls and streams are also one of the best ways to attract birds and butterflies into your garden! Creating a realistic waterfall used to be a time intensive and frustrating task of acquiring rocks, fitting those rocks together, mortaring joints, plugging leaks and then fighting stiff pond liners, but not anymore.

Savio filterweirs and Livingpond Waterfall filters now allow you to quickly and easily add dramatic waterfalls to any garden with or without a pond. Can you build a waterfall without a Savio filterweir or livingpond waterfall filter system? Of course you can, but why would you want to! If you are ready to build a successful pond and waterfall then try one of the Savio Complete Pond Kits that include everything you need including a DVD to show you step by step how to build a pond and waterfall in a weekend!

Waterfall and Streambed Tips:

  • Streambed Depth: When a streambed becomes clogged with leaf debris or in winter with ice, water can overflow the liner and drain the entire pond. To prevent overflow, provide enough depth to the waterfall and stream bed so that the high water mark is at least 6” below the top of the liner.
  • Pond vs Waterfall and Streambed Size: Water always finds the lowest point. When the pump is shut off all the water contained in the system will drain to the lowest point. To accommodate for the extra water, construct the pond area to be twice that of the combined waterfall pool and streambed area.
  • Liner Width vs Waterfall Drop: To contain water in the system the linerWaterfall stone cover kit, Savio filterweir stone cover must extend at least 1 ½’ out on both sides from the point of water impact for each vertical foot of drop. As an example: a waterfall that drops 3 feet would require an additional 4 ½’ of liner on each side to contain any splash.
  • Disguise your Waterfall Filter like the Pros: Don't waste your time looking for those perfect pieces of flagstone to place on top of your filter, do what the pros do and use a Savio Fliterweir Stone Cover Kit. At just around $100 it is a great value that bumps your pond up to the "professional" level. The faux "stone" kit contains one stone designed to provide protection and camouflage the top of the tank and one stone to serve as a realistic "stone" lip that enhances the cascade of your waterfall.

Waterfall Weir Choices:

Savio Filterweirs:

The Savio filter weirs are professional waterfalls made easy and perfect for theWaterfall weirs, build a waterfall, install a waterfall do-it-yourself gardener or landscaper! These sturdy injection molded units provide supplemental bio-mechanical filtration to your existing filtration system while offering the tranquil, peaceful sounds and visual delight of a running waterfall.

Simple to install, as the six steps below illustrate, a filter weir waterfall system allows you to achieve a professional looking water feature in a weekend. Savio Waterfall Weirs come in two sizes and can be paired side by side to create a wide waterfall, used individually or grouped to create a dramatic cascading wall of water.


Savio Livingponds Waterfall Filter:

The Livingponds waterfall filter system is an exclusive to Savio pond products. TheSavio waterfall weir filter Livingponds waterfall weir filter system is designed to keep your water clear, while creating a beautiful waterfall. The smallest livingpond waterfall filter system looks similar to the Savio filterweir system and utilizes two dense media filter pads and high porosity ceramic bio-media to filter away impurities from your pond. Livingpond waterfall filters can be combined with filterweirs depending on the configuration of your pond.

The larger Livingpond waterfall filters are designed to harness the natural dynamics of moving water for complete, low maintenance bio-mechanical filtration. This carefully engineered cylindrical design puts pond water into a self-cleaning, dynamic “spin cycle”. This process removes the heaviest debris before it reaches the filter media and ensures even filtration distribution. The net result of this unique filtration system is a sleek design that filters 4X more than the average clunky square filter boxes! You can interchange and use a Savio filterweir with a Savio Livingpond filter depending on your pond design and landscape topography.

How to Install a Waterfall Weir:
Installing an injection molded waterfall weir such as the Savio Filterwier or Savio Livingpond Water Filtration System is actually very easy. Every Savio waterfall product comes with easy to follow instructions. Below is a condensed version of installing a waterfall weir in a typical backyard pond. Remember that waterfall filterweir can also be installed in walls, pool copings or in groups to create dramatic cascading waterfalls.


How to build a waterfall, install a waterfall weir

If you are building a brand new pond, we strongly suggest using one of the Savio pond kits. The kits are engineered for ponds ranging from 500 gallons to 3,000 gallons and come complete with everything including easy to follow instructions, free shipping and are less expensive than purchasing all of the needed components separately. The larger kits also include a very useful video that guides any do-it-yourself gardener or landscaper through the process. For more information on Savio Pond Kits and PondFree Waterfall Kits, click here.

Questions About Waterfall Weirs and Ponds:


For years the owners at Stargazer Perennials have been creating realistic, stunning and dramatic water features for our own enjoyment using only Savio products. We have chosen to sell mainly Savio pond and waterfall products because they really do perform year after year with minimal maintenance.

If you have question about installing a waterfall in your garden or questions about which waterfall system to purchase, send us an email at: info@stargazerperennials.com and we will be glad to answer your questions.

Informational gardening articles on a wide variety of garden topics brought to you by the horticultural staff at Stargazer Perennials Farm and Nursery.

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