The summer is here and for many it’s time to enjoy the family pool at home. Your swimming pool should serve as an oasis, a lush retreat for relaxation and fun. Plants provide beauty and privacy around a swimming pool, softening the harsh lines of swimming pool equipment and help swimming pools to fit into the style of your home. Your pool will be even more inviting when surrounded by the right plants. Use plants that frame your pool and make it the focal point of your yard. Plants that are tall enough will form privacy screens around the pool area. At the same time, you will want to choose plants that will be low maintenance and use less water.

Locally it is not unusual for homes have a swimming pool in the backyard especially for older pools as that was the fashion many moons ago. In the new builds pools have moved right up onto the patio and closer to the house as the shapes have changed to square and rectangular being the most popular. There are many considerations to be made before deciding which plants to use but essentially the style of landscape should tie in with the house and that way the pool will become part of the environment and compliment your style.

Many pools have a concrete or decking surface around them. These materials are usually light in color and therefore are prime sunlight bouncers. Together with the enormous amount of light being reflected off of the pool’s water surface and your pool area can become a bit of a glare. Plants are the best way to absorb some of that reflected light and make it a more pleasant area to sit in in through the day. Plants with broader leaves not only absorb a lot of light they add to a tropical feel and will not get sucked into the filter like small leaves.

Consider Planting a small tree or palm to provide valuable protection from the hot afternoon sun with wide spreading branches over the swimming pool garden. Ornamental grasses are extremely low maintenance and their arching, swaying motion is extremely attractive and relaxing around the pool blending in with almost any style of garden. Flowers can also be quite a problem in the pool for the same reasons as small leaves. Remember most plants flower for a relatively short time and you may feel it is worth it to cope with the flowers in the pool during flowering time for the rewards of the beauty of the flowers as well as the many birds and butterflies that they attract.

Fast Tips to help you choose plants for the pool garden:

• Your pool and deck reflect a tremendous amount of sun. Choose plants that can take it.
• Pick plants that drop all their leaves at one time so you only have to clean up once a year. Constant leaf drop will necessitate constant cleaning.
• Plan for year round color and interest.
• Choose water wise plants to make your pool garden more maintenance free.
• Try to minimize lawns near swimming pools, this helps keep the grass clippings out of the water.
• Trees with invasive root systems can damage a swimming pool over the years. Select smaller growing indigenous trees such as the Tree Wisteria, Bolusanthus.
• As important as it is to plant bee attracting plants in the garden, around the pool it should be avoided. Especially if you have young children, curious pets and/or swimmers who are allergic to stings.

Consider using containers around the pool. The advantage to container plants is, of course, that you can move them around. If you’re saddled with ugly and/or loud pool equipment, a few well-placed large pots can serve as a terrific screen or noise reducer. One thing about poolside gardening is for certain: you will spend a lot of time surveying your work as you lounge on the deck or swim in the pool, so make sure the landscaping choices you make will meet your needs and enhance your private oasis.

Handy guide for plants around the pool:

Plant the Tree Ferns which also provide height in half day sun and lend a tropical jungle feel. Cycas or Sago Palms worth using for their foliage and form as long as they receive afternoon shade, but their leaves are spiky and shouldn’t be used in close proximity to areas used for swimming area. The strappy leaves of the Agapanthus and the classic monster leaves of the Philodendron planted together create a design contrast that is very attractive. They are hardy additions around any pool. Palms can be attractive and clean plants for poolside landscapes.

There are a number of small palms ideal such as the windmill palm Trachycarpus and the Dwarf date palm Roebelini. The tall Syagrus or Queen Palm is a popular poolside palm as it gives instant height and will grow in almost any soil conditions. The Gold fingers of the Schefflera also compliment lush feel and the interesting colours of the Cordylines add height and create contrast with texture. Use perennials such as Heuchera and ornamental grasses to cover the soil and add a permanent full look to the area. Annuals such as the Divine impatiens or Salvia will last right through summer and early autumn adding a great splash of colour.

The key thing is to plant the plants you love and that mirror your style. That way you will always be relaxed and feel at home in your own garden and when lounging around the pool, that is the most important thing.

Tip: The enjoyable sound of constantly flowing water from a water feature near the pool creates a relaxing background for those using the Pool