In the sizzling days of summer, one of the most common ways to overcome the heat is to dive into the swimming pool, if you are fortunate enough to have one. However, the majority of pool owners aren’t only using the pool as a spot to cool down and wind down. They are also using it as the centerpiece of their backyard landscape plan.
To many, a garden with a swimming pool becomes a sanctuary where an individual can break away from the turmoil of the day, and completely unwind. To others, it’s a place used to entertain relatives and colleagues. Either way, your yard isn’t going to be finished until the area surrounding the pool has been suitably landscaped.
Factors to Think About Before Creating a Design Plan for Landscaping Close To a Swimming Pool
There are some aspects to think about before creating a backyard landscaping scheme. These take into account, but aren’t restricted to, climatic zone, size of the area, present landscape, privacy, beauty, accessibility, and most important, your finances. Moreover, if you are landscaping close to a pool that has already been installed, you’re going to be somewhat more limited in the number of options that are open to you.
For new pool systems, the possibilities are only limited by budget and any building code restrictions that need to be observed. If you have the funds for it, it is advantageous to hire a landscape designer. An area landscape designer ought to be acquainted with building code restrictions, material cost, and regional weather concerns.
Standard Swimming Pool Landscaping Elements
Swimming Pool Coping and Deck
If you are building your backyard landscape around an existing pool, this will probably not be a consideration because in ground pools are in most cases initially constructed with these features. For new set-ups, the choice of the coping and deck may perhaps be the most critical decision that has to be made. Swimming pool coping is the border or trim that is installed around the boundary of the pool.
There are basically four kinds of coping to pick from. Rolled edge coping commonly consists of brick, pavers or concrete and is flat with a rolled up inside lip. Cantilevered coping is a contemporary type that lengthens the decking past the rim of the pool and down the wall forming an L-shape which makes the decking appear wider than it really is. Bull-nosed coping is built from cast-concrete, stone, or cast-stone and is flush on top with a rounded inside edging.
Finally, rough cut coping is made of flat stones that give the pool a more natural and uneven appearance. It is most generally used in combination with rock waterfalls or other styles of rock structures. The swimming pool deck is the section encircling the pool that is generally constructed from concrete, wood, pavers, stone, or tile. Consider using natural stone coping and decking or concrete pavers that match the features on your home.
Make safety a topmost priority and reason through practicalities. Opt for a decking material and color that won’t be too hot to go on in the sun or too slippery when wet. In addition, consider any future upkeep requirements of the decking material. For instance, wood decking will have to be retreated every 5 to 7 years.
Water Features
There is no better approach to increase the serenity of your backyard haven than by the addition of a trendy water feature. Water features come in a tremendous variety with the most popular being fountains and waterfalls.
Waterfalls including cascading rock waterfalls, waterfalls from adjacent spas, waterfalls from slides, and sheer waterfalls falling from retaining walls present a visually thrilling spectacle. Water sprays from vertical fountains and laminar jets are growing in popularity as well.
Summer Events- Ideas For Your Parties has some great suggestions for summertime activities in your yard.
The fastest growing thing today in regard to pool accessories is the addition of fiber-optic lighting. Fiber-optic lighting is not only being put in the walls of the pool, but is also being utilized to showcase the water features referenced previously. A large number of lighting kits include a remote control and color wheel that allows the pool owner to change the color of the lighting.
Foliage and Planting Beds
No pool landscaping design would be complete without adding plants, shrubs and trees. Planters range from modest flower pots, planters built into the deck, flower beds incorporated in a retaining wall, planting beds built into rock elements, and the most popular, a flower bed that surrounds the entire, or portions of the patio. Visit your community nursery to find varieties of plant life that are specialized to your planting zone.
Considerations include the amount of sunlight the plant will have in regard to the area you plan to plant it, its distance from the pool, and the backyard color scheme. Chlorine can be toxic to plants. Consequently, if the pool utilizes chlorine, you will want to keep the vegetation far enough away from the swimming pool so that they can’t be affected by splattering water.
The root structure of the plant is an additional significant consideration if you intend on positioning it close to the swimming pool. Be certain not to plant trees with longer root structures too close to the pool.
Lastly, you’ll want to find out if the plant loses its flowers or leaves. If it does, you’ll either want to pass up on using it, or plant it at a distance from the swimming pool to make sure that the flowers and leaves do not get in the pool. Plants, bushes and trees that lose their flowers or leaves not only necessitate increased cleanings, but may damage the pool pump or plug up the pools water system. Read more for additional tips on choosing the right landscaping plants around your pool.
Final Thoughts
Final ThoughtsIf all these choices appear a little overwhelming, you’re not alone. The most helpful advice is to view images of existing pool landscapes to find the style and preferences that you want. You can locate them on websites that sell swimming pools, as well as in their trade magazines and pamphlets.
The most essential thing you should do is put together a comprehensive plan prior to commencing with your landscaping venture. If you do that, you are sure to create a sound, low upkeep, trouble-free pool landscape that will convert the yard into your own secluded paradise. Ryno Lawn Care is always here to help with your lawn and landscaping projects. Click here for a free quote online!
3 Responses
The idea of adding extra water features outside of the pool really sounds like a good thing for me to look into. Something like that could add a much more “tropical” feeling around the entire yard rather than just in the pool itself. Once I start working with a pool construction expert in the area, I’ll ask them to lend me a hand with this for sure.
I appreciate the easy pool landscaping suggestions. Are there affordable choices available for individuals who want to improve their pool area without going over budget?
Installing extra water features around a pool is a very good idea for me to try. Water is really something that I feel is quite calming and relaxing, so maximizing how much of that kind of feeling we get for our landscape will be a good idea. I’ll look around for a pool contractor in the area so they can assist us with what I want when installing this.