Backyard waterfall

   At this point you should have your water feature completed and filled with water. The next step is to soften the surrounding area with foliage. All I can do is suggest the right type of foliage to use around your water feature. Since everyone has their own likes and dislikes the final choice will depend on your taste in plantings. You should start at the point furthest from where the greatest amount of observation will come from. Whether you will be observing your water feature from a large bay window, your deck or patio, or just a sitting area next to the waters edge. Choose the point at the greatest distance, this will most likely be at or around a waterfall. Depending on your taste you will need to choose vegetation that will grow three to five times the height of the highest point on your water feature. Flowering shrubs can add a distinctively personal touch, and small evergreens can add year round appeal. Good choices for flowering shrubs include, Viburnum, Forsythia, Abelia, Lilac, Mock Orange, Lonicera, Shrub roses, Azalea, and  Rhododendron . Good choices for evergreens include, Yews, Arborvitae, Cedar, Hemlock, Azalea, Rhododendron, Laurel, Cotoneaster, and Daphne. Some of these will as you may have noticed fit in both categories like the Azalea and the Rhododendron.

   Next you will need to choose plants that will be located at the waters edge along the side of stream beds and ponds. These should be water loving plants but not water dwelling plants. Water loving plants will thrive in moist to wet soil. Wet soil plants will include Hibiscus, Iris, Joe Pye Weed, Spider Wort, Clematis, Astibe, Brunnera, Lobelia, and Ladys Mantle. Moist soil plants include Hosta, Irish Moss, Astor, Jacobs Ladder,  Geranium, Bleeding Hearts, Bellflower, Balloon Flower,  Bee Balm, Coral Bells, and Delphinium. There are also many ornamental grasses that will thrive in moist soil like Northern Pampas Grass, Purple Fountain Grass, Evergold Sedge grass, and Dwarf Fountain Grass. Whatever you choose remember to place taller plants where they will not block your views to more appealing areas of your water feature.

   Finally you will want to place some vegetation directly into the water. This will help to remove carbon dioxide and other impurities. These will include plants like the Water Lilly, Calla Lilly, Cattails, Cannas, Bulrush, Forget-Me-Not, Miniature Water Clover, and the Edible Water Chestnut.

   As with any kind of plants or shrubbery make sure all your choices are adapted to the hardiness zone you plan to use them in.