- Conduct a soil pH test around the water feature. All plants require a certain pH range in order to thrive. Purchase a soil testing kit at a gardening supply store. Dig 6 inches into the soil to obtain soil samples for your sterilized containers. Mail the samples to the address provided. Wait for the results. Add lime to soil that is too acidic and sulfur to alkaline soil. Test your soil's draining abilities by grabbing a handful and squeezing the soil. If the soil breaks into clumps, it is too dry. Soil that releases water droplets is too wet, and soil that molds in your hand has adequate soil drainage. Determine how much sun the area gets by drawing a diagram of the water feature and surrounding planting sites and monitoring how much sunlight it gets. Full sunlight is six hours or more, partial sunlight is three to six and shade means that area gets three or less hours.
- Think about what type of look you would like to create. Contemporary landscaping design uses minimal amounts of plants for a clean look. Three types of plants are generally planted around a water feature: marginals, bog plants and deep-water plants. Marginals can be planted in soil that is lightly covered with water. You can use marginals like blue flags for softening the border of your water feature. Bog plants must have well-draining moist soil to live. Globeflowers, primroses and gunnera manicata are popular choices of bog plants. Deep water plants must be planted in the soil but can allow up to 30 inches of the plant to be surrounded by water. These plants include golden clubs, yellow pond lilies and water lilies. Be sure that the plants you use can live in your soil's pH range.
- Surface floaters and oxygenators do not require any soil for planting. They not only look beautiful floating on the water, but they also help supply oxygen to the water, which prevents algae from bloom. Water violets, water startwords, water soldiers and frogbits work well.. Make sure that a plant doesn't crowd out other plants or cover your water feature. You can take a few out to reduce their presence or add more to make a dramatic statement.
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