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Personal Considerations in Pool Landscaping
Define what you want to use your garden or patio space for.
Your space, furniture and design will be affected by whether you
use it for reading, relaxing, playing or entertaining. If
relaxation is your goal, consider soft flower colors and perhaps
a hammock. If entertaining is your purpose, consider a built-in
fireplace or fully equipped barbecue plus a large patio and a
spacious lawn to better accommodate guests.
Environmental Considerations in
Pool Landscaping
Personal taste is absolutely important and yard art will
define a theme and tone around your pool. If you love the sounds
of nature, consider wind chimes, bird baths or feeders. Ponds
and fountains are also great for relaxing and soothing noise.
Your pool landscaping design will depend on whether your
backyard has any physical or architectural limitations. These
include hills, irrigation or telephone poles. For slopes or
hills, retaining walls or a raised deck may need to be part of
the design. Environmental factors will also determine your
backyard's look. A patio should also have wonderful view and be
situated out of the wind. Placing a patio close to your house
will be the most practical. Also, think where you receive
sunlight and at what times. Sun exposure will determine plants,
shrubs and awnings. If privacy is a concern, fencing, trellises,
vines, ivy and hedges may need to be considered.
Pool Decks and Patios
The type of patio or pool deck that you choose on will
probably affect certain landscaping elements. Patio and deck
materials are crucial. Wood is the most common material used in
decks. For pool patios, concrete, brick, cobblestone and marble
can be used. A deck or patio should be non-slipping and cool to
walk on as well as aesthetically enhancing. Wooden decks work
well with wooden trellises or privacy screens and matching
flower boxes. A concrete pool patio will better match stone
fountains and concrete art.
Swimming Pool Decking
When thinking about landscape designs for pools, an important
decision to make is what type of pool paving material to use.
Paving around pools is a little different than other areas. You
don't want to select swimming pool decking that will be hot on
the feet. Bluestone, which I love, is known for this, so I
rarely recommend it to be used. Some materials to consider that
work well around pools are other natural stones, such as Idaho
Quartz or Tennessee Crab Orchard, travertine pavers, concrete
pavers, stamped concrete, and concrete pool decking.
Note: When excavating for the
pool and/or changing the grade of the land, be careful of any
large trees on the property. Raising or lowering the grade
outside the drip line (diameter of branching) of the tree will
cause the decline of the tree.
Pool Waterfalls
Landscape designs for pools often incorporate a waterfall.
People love the look and sound of moving water! To get the most
natural look, it is important that the waterfall is located at
an existing higher elevation than your pool
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