Pool Landscaping Thoughts

Pool Landscaping Will Require Significant Thought

Coming up with ideas for pool landscaping will require a little thought, as there are many considerations to your plant choices. Whether your pool is above ground or in the ground, will be the deciding factor as to the types of plants you choose.

The possibility of their exposure to chemically treated water will make choosing the right pool landscaping plants a little easier.

For in ground pools, shrubs and trees should be avoided if planting in close proximity to the pool, as the growing roots can cause problems later if they grow into the pool’s foundation.

Since most in ground pools will be surrounded by a privacy and safety fence, plants can be chosen for the perimeter, or any open areas inside the fence. For inside pool landscaping, plants should be non-deciduous, meaning they won’t lose their leaves.

This is important if you don’t want your pool to fill up with debris. Evergreen shrubs run the risk of needles blowing in to the water during stormy weather and clogging the pool’s filtering system.
All plants placed near the pool should be low blooming varieties and the simpler the better. Many annual plants will wither and die if exposed to water from the pool, especially those pools treated with chlorine. Keeping the pool landscaping simple for inside the fence is the best plan and makes them easier to maintain. Creeping plants can help cover any open ground around the pool, but you will have to keep them trimmed to prevent them from taking over the entire area.

Protect Your Pool from External Forces

If your pool is fenced it allows more flexibility in the choice of plants, but remember the more flowers and plants you put in, the more work you will have maintaining them, detracting from the time available for using the pool.

When choosing pool landscaping for around the pool’s fence, the plants should not grow higher than the fence, as their leaves will end up in the water before the summer is over.

Small groupings of low flowers, with plenty of open space between them, can add a neat look to your pool landscaping and still provide a splash of color around the fence. An occasional shrub strategically placed around the fence’s exterior, can contribute to the height of the fence but, again, should not be allowed to grow over the fence.

Another consideration for pool landscaping is the type of flower that may attract flying pests. As I said before regarding the bees, many flowers are attractive to honey bees and other flying insects that can interrupt your enjoyment of the pool.