Designing Plantings Around a Fountain: Blending Hardscape and Softscape

Four Design Principles

1. Identify Primary Viewpoints. Plant for the angles from which the fountain is most seen—patio, kitchen window, street. Don't design for an aerial view.
2. Repeat Existing Plants. Echo species already in the landscape to unify the new area with the old.
3. Allow Maintenance Access. Leave a clear path to the pump, filter, and basin. Avoid thorny or messy plants (fruit, heavy leaf drop) that clog equipment.
4. Soften the Edges. Use billowy perennials or low shrubs to blur the hard geometry of the basin.

Plant Selection Process

Visit a quality nursery with photos of the site. Walk the aisles; let textures and forms suggest combinations. Buy a few candidates, stage them on site, then finalize.