How to Build a Stream

Co-authored by Reese Baloutine (she/her)

Last Updated: June 17, 2024 Approved

Do you ever look at your garden pond and think something is missing? Well, allow us to give you some ideas to help you transform your pond into something wonderful: all you may be missing is a garden stream!

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Laying the Foundation

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at a higher ground level than your pond.
Construct your foundation gradually down from the top-pool into your pond, ensure the foundation is sloped steep enough to allow the water to flow freely. ^{[1]
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At the base of each step, dig a small hole (15cm) to sink your pond liner into thereby creating a small pool where the water can fill up and flow over to the lower step.
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You’ll need a strong enough water-pump (we used 2500 Gph) to pump the water up from your pond through a hose (we used 20mm for extra propulsion) into the top-pool which will feed the water down into your stream.
- A stream waterfall requires a stronger pump and a longer hose than you would need for a pond waterfall without a long stream.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Adding the Pondliner

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1
After you’ve constructed the foundation, run the pond liner up from your pond through the stream foundation, finishing in the top-pool. ^{[2]
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- Careful and precise fitting of the pond liner is probably the most important part of the entire process.
Before you trim the liner to size be sure to fill your stream with water to see how rapidly your water flows and check for possible holes in the lining.
Run the hose from your pond water pump up to the top-tool, carefully hide the hose under the liner and be sure to check for kinks, again check your flow of water before covering over the hose and liner.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Building the Stream

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If you have added steps to your stream you can build out the steps with garden slate allowing the edge of the slate to overhang creating a waterfall effect, the slate also hides the liner underneath.
. Garden rocks and stones don’t only add a great feature to your stream they help to weigh down your liner so don’t be afraid to use heavy ones. ^{[3]
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You can cover the excess liner and soil with small stones (we used bags of ‘gold light’) and decorate the area with driftwood, logs, slate, granite and beach stones. ^{[4]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Planting for your Stream

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Planting is where the real fun begins, border and embellish your water feature with a wide range of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, ^{[5]
X
Research source} we used water grass, water lilies, Japanese maple, ferns, alpine saxifrage.
. We all know how glorious it is sit out by your pond on a summer’s day but you can make it equally beautiful by night, all one needs is some creative lighting to illuminate your garden and water feature, simple tea-lights and floating oil burners should do the trick.
. While it’s important to maintain and manage your garden pond and stream, it’s just as important to ‘let your garden grow’. Do the hard work and planting early in the season and sit back and enjoy the rewards through the summer.

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What sort of stones can I use for a stream?

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The best stone for a homemade stream is local stone but be sure to source it legally and ethically from a local garden center or other suitable provider. You can choose to use one type of stone or mix different types of stone if you prefer. A good combination that replicates nature would be to have split stone along the banks and weathered, large and intact stones in the water. Boulders can be used as feature pieces. Also, try to match stones already in your garden, to help keep the look natural.

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What is a dammed stream?

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A dammed stream refers to a series of pooled areas of stream that are linked together by cascades or waterfalls to allow the stream to keep running through each pool and into the next one. The benefit of this arrangement is that if your pump doesn't work properly, then you can be reassured that each pool can operate independently until the pump is mended. The whole effect is very pleasing to the eye but you will need a large garden or yard space to accommodate a dammed stream.

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What features can I add to my stream to make it more interesting?

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Consider plants first, along the edges of the stream, to make it seem more natural. Reeds, grasses and ferns make good choices. If you have the skills and resources, adding a little foot bridge over the stream can be a quaint and pretty touch. Kids will enjoy stepping stones across the little stream, which can be made from large smooth rocks or even pavers, depending on the depth of the stream and its appearance. Some people even add moving features like a water mill, model boats or a fountain. It's really up to your imagination and budget but ask the kids or family what they'd like added too.

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Things You'll Need

Shovel
Bricks
PVC pond liner
Hose pipe
Water pump
Rocks / stones
Plants

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How to Build a Stream

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Laying the Foundation

Adding the Pondliner

Building the Stream

Planting for your Stream

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