How To Landscape Around A Pool

Landscaping around a pool can give the space a lush, inviting feeling and makes sitting by the pool an even more enjoyable experience. But before you landscape around your personal oasis, it's a good idea to discover which types of plants work the best.

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When installing vegetation around a pool, be sure to add some shade. This makes sitting around the pool comfortable and creates attractive views. Trees can also serve as focal points.

For visual interest, add climbing vines and hanging plants around the pool. This pulls the eye up and creates more impactful surroundings. Such landscaping can also make you feel as if you're sitting in a tropical paradise.

Focus on privacy. Well-placed plants that vine and climb and bushy trees and shrubs give a pool area coverage, which can offer privacy. If possible, place such plants in between the pool and other areas of the yard. This creates a natural "pool room" that can seem private and cloistered away.

Some plants are much better choices for landscaping around pools than others. Such plants tend to have very little leaf litter or other troublesome habits, such as dripping sap. It's also best to include plants that like full-sun, as pools are generally situated in bright light, rather than shade.

Remember to add some color to the poolside space. This will offer visual interest and beauty. Flowers make a great addition to pool area landscaping, providing they don't drop a lot of blooms. Many ornamental grasses and trees and shrubs also light up the poolside garden.You can also opt for plants that look attractive when they're highlighted by night lighting. A palm tree, for instance, lit up at night can be a majestic sight.

Some good pool plant choices for around the pool include bamboo, palm trees and hedges, which can be used to create a natural fence. Queen palm, southern live oak, golden euonymus and many ornamental grasses, such as muhly grass are also good options. If you like the look of succulents, get bird of paradise and octopus agave.

Plants that create a great deal of problems for pools are those that drop small leaves or other debris on a regular basis. Such foliage makes the top of the pool look unbecoming. The smaller leaves also tend to plug up pool filters. Plants that create a lot of leaf litter include acacia, azalea, bougainvillea, crape myrtle, honeysuckle, ash tree, evergreen elm and mesquite.