How to Landscape Around Inground Pools

After your inground swimming pool is built, turn your attention to landscaping the surrounding area. Landscaping improves the look of the pool area and the overall home aesthetic. Use plants to complement the style of your pool, keeping in mind that they must be hardy enough to withstand splashed pool water and multiple visitors. Landscaping allows you to get the most of your investment and can increase your enjoyment of this major water feature.

• 1

  Collect ideas for your plan. Look at home, garden, landscaping and architectural magazines in print or online to gather ideas for your landscaping project. Take your favorite ideas and incorporate them into a plan, mapping them out on a piece of paper. Be sure to do this in scale. A thorough landscaping plan takes time to implement, so be patient. And consider hiring professional help with jobs for which you have no experience.

• 2

  Include a fence in your plan. This is an important safety feature (especially if young children and non-swimmers will use the area) and also will protect your pool from animals. Your community may have safety requirements for inground pools, so check with your local planning office. A fence can provide climate control around your pool and add color and character to your swimming pool area.

• 3

  Grow sun-loving, hardy plants and flowers around your pool. Trees and bushes create privacy, while flowers bring color and life to a pool landscape. Select plants and flowers that enhance and compliment your pool design, colors and the materials used to build it. Choose different plants if you have a modern, sleek pool than if you have a pool that features natural rocks and a waterfall. Also, choose plants that are hardy and won't die if splashed by pool water or bumped by a water noodle. Be careful not to place plants and trees where their leaves, berries or flowers can drop into the pool and clog the filter system. Stay away from plants whose droppings will stain your deck or pool materials. And be careful to avoid plants whose invasive roots could damage the pool's structure. Always keep in mind your area's weather and soil conditions when choosing plants.

• 4

  Install lights or a lighting system around your pool landscape. Lights provide safety in addition to creating a relaxing atmosphere for night swimming. Solar lights are a good investment for pool landscapes because they can charge during the day. There are countless other lighting options, including underwater lighting to floating lights.