In the hotter days of summer, one of the most effective ways to beat the heat is to take a dip in the pool, if you’re lucky enough to have one. But, the majority of pool owners don’t just use the pool as a spot to cool down and relax, they also use it as the foundation in their landscape plans. To many, a yard with a pool develops into a haven where they can break away from the turmoil of the day, and totally take it easy. To others, it is an area used to treat relatives and acquaintances. Either way, your yard isn’t going to be complete until the area near the pool has been appropriately landscaped.
Features to Consider Before Creating a Design Plan for Landscaping Near a Pool
There are a few features to think about before designing a backyard landscape plan. These include, but are not limited to, climatic zone, size of the area, current landscape, privacy, beauty, accessibility, and most imperative, your budget. Also, if you are landscaping close to an existing pool, you are going to be a bit more limited in the number of possibilities that are available to you. For new pool installations, the possibilities are basically limitless and limited by just finances and any building code restrictions that have to be adhered to. If you have the finances for it, it is best to hire a landscape designer. A local landscape designer should already be familiar with building code restrictions, material expenses, and area climate concerns.
Swimming Pool Coping and Deck
If you are planning your backyard landscape around an existing pool, this will probably not be a consideration as in ground pools are generally originally constructed with these components. For brand new installations, the choice of the coping and deck will possibly be the most important decision that needs to be made. Swimming pool coping is the edging or trim that is fitted about the boundary of the pool. There are mainly four varieties of coping to select from. Rolled edge coping generally consists of brick, pavers or concrete and is flat with a rolled up inner lip. Cantilevered coping is a contemporary style that lengthens the decking past the edge of the pool and down the wall creating an L-shape which makes the decking seam thicker than it truly is. Bull-nosed coping is built from cast-concrete, stone, or cast-stone and is flush on top with a rounded inner edging. Finally, rough cut coping consists of flat stones which give the pool a more natural and uneven appearance. It is most commonly used in combination with rock waterfalls or other forms of rock configurations. The pool deck is the section surrounding the pool that is often constructed from concrete, wood, pavers, stone, or tile. Think about adding natural stone coping and decking or concrete pavers that complement the accents on your home. Make safety a main priority and think through practicalities. Select a decking material and color that won’t be too hot to stand on in the sun or too slippery when damp. In addition, consider any future upkeep requirements of the decking material. For example, wood decking will need to be retreated every 5 to 7 years.
Water Features
There is no finer approach to increase the serenity of your backyard utopia than by the addition of a classy water feature. Water features come in a tremendous range with the most prevalent being fountains and home waterfalls. Cascading rock waterfalls, waterfalls from adjoining spas, waterfalls from slides, and sheer waterfalls trickling from retaining walls present a visually stimulating display. Water sprays from vertical fountains and laminar jets are gaining in popularity as well. The rapidest growing trend today in respect to pool accessories is the inclusion of fiber-optic lights. Fiber-optic lighting is not only being put in the sides of the pool, but is also being used to showcase the water features referenced previously. A large number of lighting kits include a remote control and color wheel which allows the pool owner to switch the color of the lights.
Plants and Planting Beds
No pool landscaping design would be complete without adding plants, bushes and trees. Planters extend from plain flower containers, wood planters, planters installed in the patio, retaining wall planters, planting beds incorporated into rock structures, and the most common, a flower bed which surrounds all, or portions of the patio. Call your area nursery to find assortments of vegetation that are specific to your planting zone. Concerns include the amount of sunlight the plant will receive in regard to where you aim to plant it, its distance from the pool, and your backyard color scheme. Chlorine can be harmful to vegetation, hence, if the pool uses chlorine, you will need to move the vegetation far enough away from the pool so that they aren’t distressed by splashing water. The root structure of the plant is another critical factor if you anticipate locating it adjacent the pool. Be certain not to plant trees with longer root structures too close to the pool. Finally, you will want to know if the plant loses its flowers or leaves. If it does, you will either want to pass up on using it, or move it far enough away from the pool so that the flowers and leaves don’t get in the pool. Plants, bushes and trees that drop their flowers or leaves not only necessitate increased maintenance, but may harm the pool pump or block the pools pipes.
If all these alternatives seem a bit overwhelming, you are not alone. The best advice is to look at images of existing pool landscapes to find the style and preferences that you like. You can find them on websites that have pools, as well as in their industry magazines and pamphlets. The most important thing you should do is construct a comprehensive plan before commencing with your landscaping venture. If you do that, you are sure to come up with a secure, low care, trouble-free pool landscape that will convert the yard into your own private heaven.
