Poolside Landscaping Dos and Don’ts

Well-designed poolside landscaping can help your backyard look its best. However, choosing the wrong plants or placing them poorly can create maintenance issues, as well as impacting your pool’s aesthetic. While landscaping may not be on your mind as much as other elements of pool design, it’s important to take the time to carefully consider the best options for your backyard.

Here are some dos and don’ts to consider for your poolside landscaping:

Dos

DO Choose Native Plants When Possible

Native plants require less maintenance and are more likely to thrive and look their best. If you do choose any non-native plants, make sure they are at least drought tolerant and able to survive in Arizona’s climate.

DO Plan for Growth

Before adding plants, make sure you know how large they will be when they are fully grown. Otherwise, the plant may take up more space than you expect. They may also have large roots that can affect the structure of your pool.

DO Consider Your Pool’s Aesthetic

Your landscaping should complement your pool. Some designs look great with landscaping rocks and native plants, whereas others are better with a larger deck and fewer plants nearby. Keep this in mind when working on your landscape design. Also, keep in mind that you can use artificial grass or other design elements besides living plants if this is a better fit for your pool.

Don’ts

DON’T Place Thorny Plants Where People Will Walk

Cacti and many other common Arizona plants have thorns. This doesn’t mean you have to stay away from them completely for poolside landscaping, but you should be careful about placement. Don’t have cacti or other thorny plants in any areas where people will be walking.

DON’T Choose Plants that Drop Leaves

Some plants shed their leaves seasonally or year-round. If you place these near your pool, they will drop their leaves into the water. This creates more work for your skimmer and can make your pool look dirty. If you have these plants in your yard, keep them further from the pool area.

DON’T Use Insect-Attracting Plants

Bees and other insects are drawn to certain plants. While these can be great for encouraging a thriving ecosystem in your garden, you likely don’t want bugs around while you’re swimming. Keep any plants that are known to attract insects away from your pool as much as possible.

Avoid the following:

• Verbanas of any variety
• Shasta daisies
• Salvia
• Zinnias
• Herbs (basil, mint, thyme, et cetera)
• Lavender

Design a Custom Pool with Surrounding Landscaping

At Pools by Design, we can turn your dream pool into a reality. In addition to building the pool itself, we can also transform your backyard to complement your new custom pool. This includes outdoor kitchen design as well as poolside landscaping.

To learn more about how we can help you create a custom pool, contact us today.