I put our pool next to the rose bushes. First strong wind came along and they poked a dozen holes in the thing...

Two Unique Concerns in Pool Landscaping

Swimming pools are a great addition to any home, but they come with some special challenges in terms of landscaping. A pool, alone, can look quite stark and unfriendly. The blue waters of a refreshing swimming pool, no matter how desirable they may be, can appear stark and out of place when added to a landscape. As such, most of those who have pools will look for methods of pool landscaping to create a beautiful recreational area.

Landscaping can be complicated under any circumstances, but the art is further complicated when a swimming pool is involved. This is because options are far more limited for pool landscaping than in other areas. Those who plan to decorate and integrate a swimming pool must, for instance, keep two special concerns in mind. Debris and pests are both issues that must be treated differently when a pool is involved.

The first is to avoid filling the pool with unwanted debris. A series of large trees, for instance, may seem like a perfect pool landscaping touch. However, the wrong tree will make the plan a disaster. Fall leaves falling into the water might be expected, but what about those trees that lose leaves year round? Or those that release their seeds in the form of pods that can drift down into the swimming waters? Shrubs and foliage that are prone to losing leaves in the wind can present a similar problem for pool landscaping. One may want to surround the pool with natural beauty, but they must do so in a way that does not create a constant need for pool cleaning.

Another unique concern in pool landscaping is the need to choose plants for the area that do not attract insects—particularly bees and other pests humans might find undesirable when trying to take a swim or catch a few rays! Fruit-bearing trees, for instance, could make a bad match with a pool area. It is easy to overlook this consideration when performing pool landscaping, but it must be handled. Otherwise, one can make the pool area far less enjoyable.

Obviously, the insertion of a large bright blue element into a landscape can cause problems in terms of aesthetics, destroying the visual unity of a landscape. Effective pool landscaping, however, can mitigate this concern. However, in order for the project to be a complete success, one must consider the unique challenges presented by the swimming pool. Pool landscaping must consider debris and insects, as well as all of the other elements of successful outdoor beautification.