Landscaping Waterfalls in Water Gardens

Add stone around your waterfall. Large rocks that blend in with or complement the natural stone in your waterfall create a blended, natural look. These stones create a foundation around which you add plants and other elements to your water garden. Place these large stones to create visual appeal. Situate larger rocks toward the back of the pond, and smaller stones near the front to assure the view of the water is unobstructed.

Amend the soil around your pond with 2 to 3 inches of mulch and mix well. Plants that grow well around waterfalls tend to require rich, well-drained soil. The mulch will increase the nutrients in the soil as well as improve drainage and texture. Do not raise the soil level to a point where it will run off into the pond during periods of high rain.

Choose plants that tolerate the constant moisture and increased humidity found around a waterfall. Check the light requirements and your United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zone before selecting plants. Dayliles grow in partial sun, with long arching leaves that complement water gardens. Sedges or other ornamental grasses thrive around ponds. For deeper shade, astible and ferns such as maidenhair or lady fern also complement a water garden.

Place large-leaved plants near the front of your water garden, smaller leaves in the middle and plants with the smallest leaves toward the back to create the impression of depth. Consider the full size of your plant at maturity before planting.

Select plants for the margins, or edges, of your pond. Plants like Louisiana iris or cattails grow well under a few inches of water. Plant these varieties in underwater pots to control growth and add character to the pond.

Plant ground covers such as sedum or Irish moss between rocks to add more visual interest and create a natural look by softening the appearance of the stone.

Sprinkle a 1- to 2-inch layer of small stones or pebbles around the base of your plants to add a natural weed barrier.

Add seating such as a bench or a small table and chairs to encourage visitors to sit by and enjoy the waterfall.