Swimming Pool Landscaping

By Author: Kate Beswick
Total Articles: 3736
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Landscaping around your pool can be a lot of fun. Picking out just the right plants that you love and that will complement your pool really can be very exciting. But when choosing your pool landscaping, it's important not to just be thinking about how the landscaping will look but also to think about what will ensure the safety of the swimmers and not be too hard for pool maintenance. Below are some simple steps to help you decide on some great pool landscaping.

A pool with plants and flowers planted all along its side can be very attractive. But remember that container plants or potted plants are easier to maintain, replace and rearrange. Another advantage is for plants that are sensitive to frost. These plants can be brought in for the winter and be moved outdoors again the next spring. And container plants really are beautiful as well.

To help with pool maintenance and safety, don't plant flowers, plants, or shrubs that will hang over the pool. These are bound to drop something into the water whether it be pollen, stems, or petals. Also move the plants that tend to have a lot of droppings at least eight feet ...
... from the pool. Along these same lines, it's wise to choose plants and shrubs that drop their leaves in a short period so you only have to do one cleanup.

Plants that have shorter leaves tend to be less likely to have their droppings blown away by the wind and blown right into the pool. Also avoid evergreens such as live oaks and pines. They may seem like a good choice but they drop needles, pine cones, flowers, and acorns for months.

Also make sure to take your privacy into consideration and set up a fence or a large trellis to block the view of passer-bys or your neighbor's window.

And lastly, while you are deciding on your pool landscaping, talk to your local nursery about plants that tend to do well in your climate and soil. Be sure to tell that you are landscaping around a pool and ask how far away the plants should be. They are the professionals and should be able to offer some very good advice. Landscaping your pool doesn't have to be a chore. In actuality, it should add to the beauty of your pool and make it that much more enjoyable!