A Fern Grotto

To preserve the natural feel of the yard, landscape designer Dan Berger designed scenic pathways that curve and wind around the waterfall and ferns. Adding features with straight lines or harsh edges, he explains, would detract from the rustic woodland look and discourage casual strolls.

Berger estimates that a professional would charge about $3,900 to build the pathways and patio, but do-it-yourselfers can buy the materials, including ferns, for about $1,000. Berger rates this project a 2 on a difficulty scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult), commenting that there is nothing technically challenging about the project but that moving rocks adds some difficulty. The project would take about three weekends to complete.

Step One: Building the Timber Path

Begin by clearing and grading the pathways. The steps for the timber path should have a comfortable 6-inch riser, with the flat part of the step, or tread, ranging from 3 to 5 feet, depending on the grade of the hill.

For the first path, landscape contractor Francisco Bygoytia chose 4-foot-long rustic railroad ties for a path wide enough to accommodate two walkers. Railroad ties are available at most home-supply centers for about $10 apiece.

Place a double layer of weed cloth between the steps, and cover it with 3/4-inch drain rock, spreading it with a shovel to create a level walking surface. Repeat this process for each step until the path is complete.

Step Two: Building the Flagstone Path

Carve out 8-inch risers for any steeper segments of the path, if needed. Cut more railroad ties to 2-foot lengths for a narrower path. Set the ties in place and secure them with rebar. Cover the treads with weed cloth and drain rock, as for the first pathway.

Grade the flood area so it's level, and then set the flagstones. Use larger pieces for easy stepping stones, and fill in with smaller stones.

Step Three: Installing the Patio

Cover the entire base of the patio with weed cloth. Set the flagstone in a random pattern, leaving 1-inch gaps between stones. Use a level to make sure the stones create a flat surface. After setting all the flagstones, fill in the nooks and crannies with 3/8-inch lodi gravel, which costs about $60 per cubic yard.

Now that the two pathways and patio are complete, you are ready to plant the ferns.

Planting a Fern Grotto

Berger chose a variety of ferns to plant around the waterfall and beside the pathways to create a woodland look, and he added colorful accent plants for highlights within the greenery. The ferns he selected include:

• Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum), Zones 3-8

• Button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia), Zones 8-10

• Japanese tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum), Zones 6-8

• Delta maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum), Zone 11

Ferns prefer an organically rich soil, so plant them in a 50-50 mix of peat moss and native soil. These plants thrive in partial or full shade, with lots of water and a little fertilizer.

To mimic the look of ferns growing from tree trunks, Berger chose a staghorn fern to mount on a piece of redwood and hang on a tree. To do this, you'll need a 16" x 18" piece of redwood or other decay-resistant wood (with a few extra scraps); a 12" x 12" piece of 1-inch-thick corkboard with a 4-inch square cut out of the middle; sphagnum moss; 4 feet of plastic-coated telephone wire; and some coated deck screws.