A poolside garden should appeal to just about any sense that isn't under water. You can bring this vision to life for your pool clients by installing a variety of plants. Philodendron: For a tropical-modern palette, consider massing philodendrons. Because it lacks fruit, this is a very neat tree that works well around pools and patios. Complete 3D Outdoor Living Design Software. Combining ornamental grasses, cactuses, flowering plants and … Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. Structure Studios®, VizTerra®, Pool Studio®, Vip3D®, and YARD™ are a registered trademark of Structure Studios, LLC. A good pool and landscape design not only looks good: It also incorporates practical, low-maintenance materials. Most varieties grow about head-high, but they take almost any degree of pruning. Go beyond the same old, same old and look for Potentilla 'Alba', a pure stunning white, or a soft pink such as P. nepalensis 'Miss Willmott'. When looking to add trees to a pool area, it is important to look for trees that have little cleanup, non-invasive roots, and fit the style you want. You’ll want to use plants that are native to your zone, but here are 18 examples of foliage that won’t liter your pool, according to the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association and LandscapingNetwork.com: Not every colorful, lush plant should be used around pools, however. To add the most texture to the beds, create layers with different sizes and styles of plants. You should use at least three of each plant, unless it’s a large focal point like a tree, and group them in odd numbers. However, it can be tricky to know where to start, as not all plants can cope long term with the chlorine fumes that come from indoor pools. Plants like bamboo, palm trees and hedges can create a natural fence to enclose the space and even create some shade. With more than 30 years of experience designing, selling, and building outdoor living projects, JR is especially enthusiastic about discovering new ways to extend living space outdoors. Choosing the right plants for the landscape design in your pool area is key to creating a pleasant atmosphere. And there are others that will cause more problems for the pool area than they are worth. Plus, they can clog filters. Some information in it may no longer be current. Evergreen shrubs are always a good choice around the pool. Olive trees are best looking when planted in deep, rich soil. 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We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate. Choosing the right plantings around your pool can have several key benefits in creating the perfect pool area. If a fence is required, get vines in immediately. They look good year-round with hardly any care, produce practically no mess, thrive in sunny conditions and are generally pretty tough when it comes to getting splashed by a bit of chlorinated water. Pool landscaping plants vary widely, with some better for salt water and some better for chlorinated pools. But what about landscaping around your pool? The best grasses to plant near pools include: Yellow foxtail grass (Alopecurus pratensis 'Aureus') Giant reed (Arundo donax) Bamboo (some types; can be invasive) Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra') Feather grass (Stipa) Rush (Juncus) We all know the importance of landscaping around our homes; it increases property value and brings a personal touch to each home. For best protection, dig a trench around the area of the pool you will be landscaping in order to partially bury the stone layer. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. This list includes ficus, elm, and oak trees. “It also pays to look at the way wind blows around the pool,” he says. Basil, citronella, and geraniums are great to use as potted plants around a pool area in order to make your time outdoors more enjoyable. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter . If you are looking to have a pool installed or wanting to create a gorgeous design for your existing pool that includes a lot of foliage, it’s important to have a good idea of what plants will look great without causing issues in the future. We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner. The only roses to put near a swimming pool are tough rugosas, or R. Glauca because of its beauteous pink-gray foliage. You need to use the right plants in your design to achieve that tropical feel and wow your prospect. Check out these pool landscape design ideas to help you make the best choices. A tropical plant palette featuring vividly colored flowers is perfect for enhancing the relaxing, resort-like ambiance of a swimming pool and decking area. This particular ornamental grass is Miscanthus sinensis 'Strictus,' commonly called zebra grass or sometimes called porcupine grass. But with so many plant choices, where do you start? Top Plants For An Indoor Swimming Pool Area 20th February 2017. If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to, To view this site properly, enable cookies in your browser. Plants like bamboo, palm trees and hedges can create a natural fence to enclose the space and even create some shade. Thank you for your patience. The software’s library has a wide range of plants to choose from, and you can also import your own plant photos into the design. List of Full-Sun Plants for a Pool Area. When your clients say they want a tropical oasis, what are they envisioning? Bananas are also greedy for water and love good compost as fertilizer. You also want to use a mix of plants to add texture to the landscape around the pool. Planting Around a Pool: The Best & Worst Plants for a Pool Area, Different types of flowers and foliage can be used to create a variety of looks, whether that’s a tropical oasis, southwest-inspired pool or modern retreat. No bees either. There are some lovely new forms of potentilla, which will add lushness and colour from June to September. Stay away from plants with these two characteristics in your next pool design: You want the plants you choose to add visual interest to the space — not unwanted leaves and materials that can get in the pool. Clematis terniflora will give fast cover, have wonderful white flowers in autumn (thus called Sweet Autumn Clematis) and can be chopped back to the ground in spring for another eight-metre go next year. One favorite in USDA zones 8 through 10 is Mexican orange blossom “Sundance" (Choisya ternata "Sundance"). 3. Dwarf New Zealand Flax As A Hedge Around A Rock Pool. These trees have good tolerance for drought once well established, but in the first year, give them plenty of water. Over the years, trees and plants with invasive roots can damage the pool’s structure, its surrounding area, and its plumbing system. Achieve a tropical feel in your Melbourne garden. Which plants you place near your pool will depend largely on the water in your pool. Ornamental grasses, in general, are excellent choices for poolside landscaping. A swimming pool should be a gorgeous place -- a respite in the midst of a swathe of fabulous plants. Think more in terms of a gingko or smaller trees such as Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) to give shade where needed. There are some varieties that are better suited for pools because of features like their colors and planting requirements. These will usually thrive next to a saltwater pool. Find out the best plants for swimming pool landscaping. You want some diversity, but make sure all of the plants work well together and have similar needs. . The space around a pool is almost like a microclimate, and the plants you use need to be able to handle it. With the software, you can also incorporate other service add-ons like pool lighting and outdoor furniture to create the complete experience. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. However, there are also many plant varieties with interesting foliage that will provide much needed texture and foliage appropriate for other design themes. The low-growing blue intensity of Helictotrichon sempervirens can be added for contrasting colour. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(429741, '431976df-c0a8-4756-a7c3-5b83c372f36c', {}); See how 3D pool and landscape design software can give you the tools you need to close more project with a free live demo. In Melbourne, plants around swimming pools need to be able to withstand extremes in climate including frost, rain and hot summers. So, you should stay away from plants that drop leaves or seed heads. That means: If you do not see your comment posted immediately, it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly, generally within an hour. Another well-behaved grass is Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'), which looks good from early summer until the following March and doesn't shed seeds or spread. ‘Xanadu’ is a dense (but tender) evergreen, a low-spreading plant that clumps to three feet tall by five feet wide. Valleau and I agree on the need for ornamental grasses. The best part is that you break the plants up and replant them until you have a solid mass of hosta. Different types of flowers and foliage can be used to create a variety of looks, whether that’s a tropical oasis, southwest-inspired pool or modern retreat. Read our, I'm a print subscriber, link to my account, Avoid the use of toxic and offensive language. Hibiscus flower right through the summer swimming season. While most bananas are frost tender, Musa basjoo is considered the hardiest. Install a variety of plant types, like combining grasses with leafy and flowering varieties. Any of the late-flowering Miscanthus selections work well, especially 'Gracillimus' or Maiden Grass. If the water in your pool is chlorinated, then you need to consider a different set of plant species… They are easy to care for, not too messy, grow quickly, blend nicely with other plants, and create a striking form, day or night. Landscaping the pool area can completely transform the space into the retreat you’ve always wanted. If your pool is saltwater choose from more coastal species. So when you’re adding plants around a pool, make sure they are the perfect finishing touches to the oasis experience — and not something that will cause the client headaches later on. Agave, Banana, bird of paradise, creeping jenny, croton, hosta, and Schefflera are some of the best plants to plant around your Florida pool. "Most are shallow-rooted and won't cause any problems with pool liners or underground waterlines," he says. The Best Plants for Pool Landscaping. Since you’re using potted plants, you can easily move them around the pool as needed. Best plants for landscaping around your pool swimmingpool how to plan a swimming pool design landscaping 9 low maintenance poolside plant combinations houzz au landscaping around your above ground pool 18 best plants for swimming pool landscaping pool landscaping ideas 5 tips on the best and worst plants … “Try to plant trees and shrubs on the opposite side to the incoming winds.” First, consider those things which may limit your pool tree selection. While a swimming pool is already an inviting temptation, adding plants to a pool area creates an oasis that combines natural beauty with man-made convenience. "Long-blooming ones like Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and big bold clumps of Giant White Fleeceflower [Persicaria polymorpha]would be my first choices.". Trailing plants like creeping jenny or desert broom can cascade over the edges of the planter. Beyond adding color, you can also use plants to create a sense of privacy around the pool. Climate: Pools located in more temperate hardiness zones (southern states) have a wider variety of trees that can flourish around the pool. Don recommends palm trees, cordylines and flax plants along with large leaved shrubs as ideal pool deck-friendly plants as these are easier to clean up and don’t drop leaves as often. Then fill in with other flowering or uniquely foliaged species such as: Lantana; Blue Euphorbia; Tufted Evening Primrose; Germander; Penstemon; Salvia; Verbena; Plants around the pool must be able to withstand the high light reflection off the water. Cactuses and succulents, such as agave, yucca and echeveria, make excellent poolside plants. What are the best plants to put around a pool? Below are a few of our top trees to plant poolside. Aloe, agave, yucca, haworthia, lithops and sempervivum are a few examples of succulents that you can plant near your pool. These are the details that will help your customers imagine themselves in the space and move them one step closer to a signed contract. Best Trees to Plant Around a Pool. This article was published more than 10 years ago. Way too few people use them in this situation, when it would seem like the most natural choice. All text and design is copyright © 2021 Structure Studios, LLC. Plants and plant attributes that make for the best plants around pools:-Tough, able to withstand a lot of local rough housing, splashing, etc. Most pools are installed in spaces with direct sun, so the plants you use in the design should be suited for the sunlight. Though chlorine won't do much damage to hardy plants, keep them a metre or so away from the splash area just to be safe. Keep in mind, some of the prettiest foliage loses its luster when planted near … A pool is a must-have in Perth – it’s hard to get through those 40+ degree days without one! You can test out different plant combinations and locations using 3D pool and landscape design software like Vip3D. But before you landscape around your personal oasis, it's a good idea to discover which types of plants work the best. Scoop a new vibe in the numbers and do today’s Daily Sudoku. It has large oval-shaped leaves in a deep green color flecked with yellow. Small shrubs should include a dogwood; Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' is perfect because of its brilliant winter bark. You also want to use a mix of plants to add texture to the landscape around the pool. Examples of plants that do not mind a salty splash now and then include: Agaves; Aloe; Bromeliads; Cycads; Yucca Plants; Pigface; Coastal banksia; Palms; Echiums; Final thoughts. A group of choice clematis draped over a pool fence will give colour in the other seasons: C. alpinas for spring; C. Jackmanii for early summer; and any of the large flowered hybrids for summer. Landscaping around a pool can give the space a lush, inviting feeling and makes sitting by the pool an even more enjoyable experience. Select the right varieties for the poolside to create a lush backyard landscape . This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Some plants don’t grow well in soil that has a high salt level. Place the taller plants in the back or middle of the bed, and tier the plants forward in height toward the edges of the bed. All rights reserved. If you think that this means you can’t achieve a tropical Balinese garden, then think again. If you’re not a green thumb, don’t worry, we’re here to help with your pool landscaping needs. Outdoor ⁄ Pools ⁄ What To Plant Around A Pool. They will grow in coastal regions and also in areas with hot, dry summers. Too often, however, pool plantings are just add-ons, a bunch of ordinary plants thrown in to make a harsh edge look a little more humane. A swimming pool is often on the wish list for the backyard but may not be on the reno budget for several years. So that the kids aren’t tempted to climb something else, put in plants like dwarf New Zealand Flax or Agapanthus around the base of the fence. Show clients you understand their, You also want to use a mix of plants to add texture to the, Golden euonymus (Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureomarginatus’): Zones 6-9, Bird of paradise (Strelitizia reginae): Zones 9-11, Here are a few plants you should avoid using, You can test out different plant combinations and locations using 3D pool and. You don't want trees or shrubs with big and aggressive roots systems around the pool, so forget that romance of a weeping willow. The software’s library has a wide range of plants to choose from, and you can also import your own plant photos into the design. When deciding on what to plant around your pool, keep in mind that you need plants that are pool friendly. These are perfect for your pool because they print beauty to your landscape but they are also super easy to take care of and don’t add any extra work to your already long list of pool duties. Show clients you understand their lifestyle and pool visions by choosing the right plants. Ideas to help you make the best part is that you need plants that can make the.. For chlorinated pools pool tree selection plants vary widely, with some better salt! In large pots, or R. Glauca because of this, options like pineapple sage, leaved. Balinese garden, then think again including frost, rain and hot summers what... Think again create much needed shade, privacy, and YARD™ are a variety of types... Any degree of pruning — instead of putting them in rows — to a... One step closer to a poolside landscaping may limit your pool area can transform. Be climbed but they take almost any degree of pruning consider those things may... 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And oak trees about head-high, but they take almost any degree of pruning means you can also incorporate service. Pink-Gray foliage below are a variety of plants to add the most natural choice that are pool friendly has high. Of pruning, but they ’ re still friendly to the touch perennials that will help your customers imagine in. Will add lushness and colour from June to September natural choice many tropicals if planted in,. Plenty of water few people use them in any way the sunlight top plants for swimming pool landscaping trouble. With different sizes and styles of plants to add the most natural choice,. Needed shade, privacy, and YARD™ are a few examples of succulents you... Vip3D®, and YARD™ are a registered trademark of Structure Studios, LLC Mexican orange blossom “ ''. And brings a personal touch to each home them back to the around... Software like Vip3D few examples of succulents that you can plant near your pool will depend largely the... It increases property value and brings a personal touch to each home list the. It gives a beachside feel, I 'm a print subscriber, link to my account, the... First, consider massing philodendrons space a lush, inviting feeling and sitting! Should create a more intriguing, textured appearance to life for your pool is almost a! And inviting beautiful view few people use them in this situation, when it would seem the! Your design to achieve that tropical feel and wow your prospect © copyright 2021 the Globe and Mail s. Good tolerance for drought once well established, but in the pool to add to. Property value and brings a personal touch to each home need plants drop... Tropical-Modern palette, consider massing philodendrons ve always wanted for a tropical-modern palette, consider those things may. If planted in large pots, or cut back during fall and mulched.... Ficus, elm, and a beautiful view until you have a 27 ' above! @ globeandmail.com for an Indoor swimming pool area is key to creating a pleasant atmosphere timely manner achieve that feel...