How to Build a Rill Water Garden
Even though your garden may not provide the slope necessary for a waterfall or the space needed for a pond, you can still enjoy a water garden. Rills, or narrow canals, wind through a backyard garden adding ambiance and the pleasant sound of running water. Formal rills are made of concrete or masonry and typically employ one type of flower for an elegant effect. Informal rills are similar to natural brooks. Water loving plants, such as irises, are planted along edges lined with stone.
Choose your rill's location. Rills can stand alone or act as a transition from one area of the garden, or one area of a water feature to another.
Dig a trench at least 8 inches deep.
Widen and excavate one end of the trench to a depth below your region's frostline, usually 3 feet. This area will be the sump.
Keep one end of the trench elevated at least 3 inches above the rest of the depression. This area will be your reservoir.
- Choose your rill's location.
- Keep one end of the trench elevated at least 3 inches above the rest of the depression.
Remove any debris, sharp roots or stones from the trench.
Dig a small trench parallel to one side of the main trench. The smaller trench is for the flexible pipe which will circulate the water. The smaller trench need only be the depth necessary to conceal the flexible pipe below ground.
Excavate the pipe trench to allow the pipes to run from the sump area, along the length of the rill and into the reservoir. Electrical cables from the submersible pump will also run through this area. Check the manufacturer's specifications for details on how to safely run the cables.
- Remove any debris, sharp roots or stones from the trench.
- The smaller trench need only be the depth necessary to conceal the flexible pipe below ground.
Lay the pipe. Do not back-fill the trench at this time.
Pack 1 inch of fine, damp sand along the walls and bottom of the trench, sump and reservoir.
Measure the butyl liner so it can be placed inside the full length of the trench, sump and reservoir. Allow for a foot of excess liner on each side of the hole.
Position the butyl liner inside the trench, sump and reservoir. Smooth any wrinkles and do not fold the liner. Secure in place with bricks or stones.
- Do not back-fill the trench at this time.
- Measure the butyl liner so it can be placed inside the full length of the trench, sump and reservoir.
Mix the concrete using the wheelbarrow and shovel.
Line the walls, bottom, sump and reservoir of the trench with 3 inches of concrete.
Ensure that the concrete is level. Wait for 48 hours for the concrete to fully set.
Mortar a line of masonry brick along the edges of the trench. The excess liner will remain on the outside of the brick. The liner will be concealed later.
- Mix the concrete using the wheelbarrow and shovel.
Wait for the masonry brick to set before laying the decorative brick or stone.
Moisten the inside of the rill, sump and reservoir once the decorative masonry has set, usually within 48 hours.
Apply a 1/2-inch layer of fiber reinforced cement to the inside of the rill, including the reservoir and sump area.
Coat the rill with water sealant after the cement has dried.
Set the submersible pump into the sump. Connect the flexible pipe and electrical cables to the pump in accordance with the manufacturer's directions.
Add water to the rill and start the pump.
- Wait for the masonry brick to set before laying the decorative brick or stone.
- Moisten the inside of the rill, sump and reservoir once the decorative masonry has set, usually within 48 hours.
Monitor the pipes for leaks then back-fill the pipe trench.
Conceal the excess liner with soil from the trench excavation.
Plant water-loving flora near the watercourse.
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References
Tips
- If the rill is connecting two watercourses, then a sump and reservoir area will not be necessary.
- Deep-rooted water plants such as waterlilies do not thrive near running water. Also, the depth of the rill does not allow deep water plants much room for growth. Grow plants such as Himalayan Windflower (Anemone rivularis), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) or hostas near the rill but do not grow plants inside of it.
- Conceal the sump and reservoir area of a stand alone rill by setting weatherproof boards or other deck material across the top. Place trailing containerized plants on the decking.
Warnings
- Frozen water is damaging to water features. Winterize your rill, if necessary, by draining the water, disconnecting and removing the pump at season's end.
Writer Bio
Catherine Duffy's writing can be found on gardening blogs, tech sites and business blogs. Although these topics seem quite different, they have one area in common: systems and design. Duffy makes systems and design (as they pertains to plants, supply chains or software) entertaining and welcoming to general readers.
