How to Decorate Your Fountain With Rocks and Grass

Fountains come in many different shapes and sizes.

Fountains add decorative flair to a landscape and often function as a centerpiece for a lawn or garden. They create a tranquil oasis with the soft sounds of running water. Fountain decorations should blend well with the fountain's structure and coloring to enhance its appearance rather than distract from it.

Instructions

1. Place the fountain in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. Ornamental grasses require sunlight to grow and stay healthy.

2. Plant ornamental grass seeds around the fountain's base in the spring or fall. Add organic matter to the soil. Keep the grass well watered to encourage rapid growth. Blue fescue, perennial fountain grass and bluestem are common examples of ornamental grasses that would add contrast to a fountain.

3. Spread a 1-inch layer of red lava rocks around the base to set off the area around the fountain. Or place interestingly shaped medium-sized rocks around the base of the fountain. Set small, rounded, multicolored stones inside the fountain where they can be washed by the falling water. The sunlight on the falling water will add to the rainbow effect.

Tips & Warnings

• Trim the grass around the fountain frequently to keep it even and prevent overgrowth. Using a lawn mower or weed whacker that close to the fountain is more likely to cause damage. Trimming also prevents the grass from spreading into the rest of the lawn. Place edging around the grasses if this becomes a concern.

References

• Kinetic Fountains: Decorating with Floor Fountains
• Colorado Lava: Fact Sheet for Lava Rock
• University of Illinois: How to Plant Ornamental Grasses