Creating a beautiful garden or patio takes a little planning so that no feature is overlooked while all components work together, whether a water fountain, koi pond or any other water feature. Using flowers and plants to frame and accent outdoor decorations will create a harmonized area that’s also pleasing to the eye. There are many options for matching or complementing a fountain, but here are some tips to get you started.
Outdoor patios or pool areas that use marble, concrete, stone and tile can appear hardened and unwelcoming. Potted plants and ferns can be placed in corners, on side tables and along the edge of a pool or walkway to add some color without detracting from the classic look you want to achieve. The plants and ferns will add some luscious green in contrast to the dull stone or concrete with simplicity. Likewise, if you have a colorful tiled fountain, you certainly don’t want to pull focus away from it. Stick with greens again by using broad leaf plants, ivy and creeping juniper. Ivy complements most wall-mounted fountains, but be careful the vines don’t interfere with the way the fountain functions. Pruning the ivy will keep the vines in check while they snake along.
Small stand alone fountains or birdbaths are usually more plain. Rather than pairing them with tall grasses and potted plants, use colorful flowers that grow to about half the size of the fountain. That way, the fountain will stand out among the flowers, but it will hardly look plain surrounded by daisies, peonies, forget-me-nots or geraniums. Check the local nursery for some ideas, and larger flowering bushes can be used as long as they don’t dwarf or drown the fountain. Invite wildlife into your garden with Snow Day Surprise, gardenia bushes, butterfly bushes, hydrangeas and lilacs. And don’t forget that lilacs come in a variety of colors.
The most important thing to remember is to decorate with plants and flowers that will thrive in the weather conditions. Choose some foliage that bloom in the spring, some in the summer and the others in the fall to keep your garden colorful longer. Warm colors, such as orange, red, pink and yellow, blend very well together. Green, blue and purple are considered cool colors. So, in order to make a blue and yellow tiled fountain pop, surround it with pinks, reds and purples. White and yellow daisies will soften a red brick fountain, while they may not do much for a concrete water feature.
In the end, you’ll want a place where you can socialize with friends or relax alone, so don’t sacrifice your own preferences for a color scheme. Make sure you include some of your favorite flowers or plants for a garden or patio you’ll love.