Pond, Fountain and Waterfall Projects You Can DIY

• With this design, there's practically none of the worst part of pond building — gut-busting digging. And that also means there's no huge pile of dirt to get rid of.
• Talk about instant gratification! Build the walls and trellis in the morning and assemble the pond in the afternoon. Add the trim the next day and go buy goldfish!
• Traditional in-ground ponds can be a drowning hazard for toddlers and pets. With this above-ground design, the risk is reduced.

You don't have to settle for some kitschy plastic-resin waterfall is you're looking for a unique water feature. Here's a simple and elegant way to add a soothing waterfall to your backyard. And you don't have to be particularly handy or have a shop full of tools . Learn how to build the bamboo sluice (in a single day) and how to build a small pond to catch the water, complete with a pump and water plants, here.

This fountain is designed for simple installation and easy maintenance. There are no hard-to-use materials involved, no special skills or tools needed. And any mistakes you might make are easy to correct. The fountain shown is about 4 ft. in diameter. You could make yours half as big or twice as big using the same materials and methods. To change the look of the fountain, you can use a different type of stone, arranged any way you like. Find the step-by-step instructions, here.

Modeled after an old millstone, this little fountain is the perfect size for a patio or small backyard. Constructed from concrete and common building material, you can construct it in a weekend. Here's how!

If you're looking for an eye-catching feature for your patio, deck or even front entry, this natural-looking fountain will do the trick. Designed around a special stone with a 1-in. hole drilled through it, water from the pump gurgles up through the hole and overflows the stone. To reduce maintenance, we eliminated the collection pond. A gravel-filled reservoir below collects the overflow for recirculation. Since no sunlight can reach the water in the reservoir and support algae growth, the water stays pristine. Check out the complete how-to instructions, here.

Create a stone-lined garden pond, then carve a waterfall out of a block of stone using basic power and hand tools. The technique is simple, even for beginners. Want to know how it's done? Find out, here.

Enjoy the splash and sparkle of water indoors or out—with minimal maintenance and expense. Learn how to build this fountain out of concrete. You'll save several hundred dollars building this fountain yourself instead of buying it. So make a trip to your local home center to pick up the supplies, then follow these how-to steps to cast the fountain.