:O/ Wondering if I should have shared my photos on a different posting title...Mentioning what the photos were of.

Yes, rock or any other mulch is best if it is not piled right up to the base of a plant. But if your sand cherry was transplanted, then there could be other reasons why it didn't make it. Was it already fairly large? Did you get a good-sized root ball? Did you trim the plant back so the volume of the top matched the volume of the roots? Did you pamper it for awhile after you moved it?

That aside, you sure have some lovely stone work there! The waterfall is impressive. I bet it makes a wonderful sound while you're hanging out on the stone bench. Nice work!

Thanks Karin for the heads up that we were given the right information...to keep the rocks away from the plants base.

And hanging head on the sand cherry we most likely killed...It was fairly large...my husband got a decent size root ball but I felt he could have taken more. We did NOT trim the plant back so the volume of the top matched the volume of the roots. Once moved I've given it miracle grow and watered deep...But again we had it smothered with rocks up high on it's main base.

Would it pay to trim the shrub shorter to after planted to help counter that we hadn't done it before transplanting?

Thanks on the kind words of the waterfall...I was really trying to go with the "natural" look...then that weeping maple suckered me into purchasing it. We vacation around waterfall trails and have for years. So when I suggested a water fountain feature in the backyard...my son who was 11yrs. old at the time commented he felt that a waterfall would be more appropriate. And that is how it all started. I originally wanted a horseshoe of rocks placed so that a larger rock/bolder could sit a top. And have the bolder drilled and water come down over it. Which sort of reminded me of a smaller version waterfall called "Ash Cave" down in Hocking Hills area of Ohio. But the kit we purchased was HUGE...and the man working the bobcat and my husband felt we were going to be wasting so much materials by making as such...and it went from there. I do love it and the sound it makes. It's built into a hill so I really don't have a "HUGE" pile of rocks coming up unnaturally from the ground to form it. Our neighbors who walk by complain because you can't really see it from the road...but only hear it. But to make it any other way would of made it look more unnatural. On the corner from us the previous owners made a rock garden of large rocks...so what rocks you do see from our backyard when not viewing the waterfall...looks natural to the area I think because of what the previous neighbors did.

One neighbor came by and visited...and teased that HGTV called and wants their waterfall back. lol

We also have a porch swing back there along with a few chairs on the back patio. And off the other patio where we have a picnic table you can view the waterfall as well. So it's ideally placed for our own enjoyment...

No one can get over the size rocks used to make this waterfall. I think that alone helps make it look more natural than using just smaller ones that one can lift with their hands. Big project took most of the summer. But well worth it.

Hi cadillac,

For transplanting, sometimes I do the trimming after I transplant the shrub, so I can get a sense of how stressed the plant is and therefore how much I should cut it back. But they always need some trimming, no matter what. So if the plant is showing signs of stress, yes, trim it. But if it has recovered and seems OK, then you do not have to trim it at this point.

The waterfall is impressive. I agree that being built into the hillside makes it look natural, as does the use of large rocks and boulders. You did a good job to nestle it into the existing topography because the vast majority of these look fake and unattached to the landscape.

The placement of the rocks in the stream channel is also well done, following the pool/riffle shape of natural streams, where the stream flows in flatter pools for a stretch, then plunges down over a ledge and onward into the next pool. Very few people pick up on this trait of natural streams.

I can imagine how happy you feel having the project done! A big undertaking for sure, but with great results. Nice work!

Are you going to add more plants?

Thanks Karin...I will head out shortly to prune the shrub. For at this point I can't see any improvement.

As for the waterfall and stream bed...thank you for the compliments. We've vacationed around waterfalls and have hiked for goodness close to 10 years. So we've spent some time out admiring nature. Your compliments made my day that you felt it looked somewhat natural.

And your question as to if we plan of planting more. The answer is yes...buy trying to not jump in with another spur of the moment purchase as the Ryusen Weeping Maple. Not that I regret it...but it really isn't something we see while hiking. But on first glance I thought it was ivy that was trained to climb up. So since considering purchasing another one that is actually to represent ground cover. So maybe it will look as if it has taken over that area and you'll see the tree but with it covering the ground confuse a person into thinking it had climbed up something at first glance. Buy to do that I need to figure out how far the branches will cover the ground from the Ryusen.

Just back from pruning hard...The shrub didn't seem green but had lots of red when pruning. Wait to see what spring brings...

Well, the pruning hopefully will help. What kind of sand cherry is it? They are really tough plants, so if it's still alive at this point it will probably be OK.

As for the rest of the plants, I like your theme of keeping the natural look. Some dwarf conifers might fit the bill, or a multistem Serviceberry tree/shrub. Both of those are things you'd see out on a hike. I also think that clumps of Siberian iris or Japanese iris (but definitely not bearded iris) look natural along a stream bank. The Japanese iris prefers moist soil, while the Siberian is more drought tolerant.

Other natural/native possibilities include shrub dogwoods, ninebarks or shrub willows. Each of those can get quite big, so you'd have to plan accordingly.

I don't know much about your zone but I bet a knowledgeable plant person at a local nursery would have a good time coming up with candidates.

I am clueless if it is alive or dead...this I believe is the one that is struggling in the backyard. Again we transplanted it out of the shade where it wasn't blooming.

{{gwi:288078}}

Thanks for the suggestions...I'm a zone 5...I will definately look into what you've mentioned. I do like iris and appreciate your suggestion to stay away from the one.

I am sort of sticking with the one nursery who after years of shopping around at several...pinpointed my issue with the black walnut. She talked me into ground cover roses (I am not a fan of roses because of the special care they take. But do love the mini pink wild ones)
These are the ground cover she talked me into...no fertilizer or deadheading...minor pruning if needed. Smaller roses but not quite as miniature as the wild version I like...less invasive too! These have thrived just under the drip line of the walnut...still getting sun.

{{gwi:288079}}

Purple leaf sand cherry are nearly indestructible, so I hope it survives for you.

As for the roses, I use those groundcover roses a lot. You might like 'Nearly Wild' as, you guessed it, it looks like a wild rose. They are terrific plants and I find myself adding them anytime I have a tough spot.

Rugosa roses also have that wild look. They can get really large, but they are a fantastic shrub. The red-leaf rose is another beauty that would fit into a naturalized planting scheme.

Tea rose do not like Black Walnut, like tomatoes, they can get black spot from it.
Your wild rose looks fine, I think that is the Seven sisters rose that will grow wild . It has hot pink flower to soft pink flower that will fade to white. Deer & cows like the tender shoots, but never seen them kill one in the wild.
As for gravel, stones, even large rocks, many plants like the cool earth in the hot summer here in the south.

That is actually ground cover roses...they seem to be doing well so far. I am familiar with the rose you mentioned. This is the reason I went this route with the ground cover roses. They resemble them.

Now that you mentioned a name...I'm going to see if I can't find me a wild rose bush some place.