Hello Guest, 
0 item(s)
Above-ground backyard pools are becoming more and more popular. There are several reasons for this, and one is that the cost of an in-ground pool is prohibitive for many people. Depending on where you live, installing an in-ground pool can easily reach $40,000-$50,000 or more. If you don’t think you will stay in your current location, that may not be a wise investment.
Once you have decided on the size of your above-ground backyard pool, you have to decide where you want your pool to be located. Spend some time with this decision. If you have a large yard, you may want to position the pool to one side of the yard rather than centering your pool.
How close to the house do you want the pool to be? Will you have a deck surrounding all of your pool, or just one part, or no deck at all? All these decisions need to be made first before landscaping is added. Once you have a plan for the finished look of your pool and possible deck, you can complete the area using these backyard pool landscaping ideas.
Border. You will need to border your pool with stone or gravel. The two main reasons for a border is that there will be overflow possible, as well as splashing water when several people are in the pool. Most plants cannot tolerate repeated exposure to chlorinated water. Second, if the lawn goes up to the pool without a border, the easiest way to trim the grass will be with a weed whacker, which can cause serious damage to your pool wall. You can use organic mulch around your pool, but you will risk attracting bugs like termites and ants, which can also damage your pool. A border of pavers or decorative stone is the material of choice in this situation.
Roots. When selecting plants to place close to your pool, check with the garden center about the root system of the plant you want. Some bushes have a very compact root system, but others have roots that like to spread out and grow quite a distance from the bush or tree. Those roots will grow under your pool and can eventually cause an uneven floor to your pool.
Trees. Some shade from trees is nice to have in your pool but use caution about the type of tree and the distance from your pool. As in the caution above, trees have roots. They also have leaves. If planted too close to the pool, you will be spending a lot of time cleaning leaves from your pool. The same is true if you have a flowering tree that will drop its petals.
Evergreens. Evergreen bushes are a good choice to soften the look of the above-ground backyard pool. These bushes hold their foliage throughout the year. You may not use your pool in the winter, but it is still a dominant feature in your yard, so the evergreen conifers are a great choice. There are all different types and shapes of conifers. Some grow tall and thin while others are going to spread out but maintain a fairly low growing habit. Conifers also come in many shades of green, from the darkest forest greens to an almost yellow shade of light green. These can be stunning when mixed in the backyard pool landscaping. Don’t forget other evergreens such as hollies. These also hold their leaves in winter and make a nice contrast in texture to the conifers.
Grasses. Grasses have gained a lot of popularity in the past few years. They come in different colors as well as heights. A perennial grass will come back year after year and needs very little care. They will soften the look of your landscape as the grasses sway in the wind. Choose a taller variety of grass that can grow to the height of your above-ground backyard pool.
Annuals. If you love flowers and want color in your pool landscape, save space for pockets of annuals. Against the backdrop of your conifers and grasses, the annuals you choose will provide pops of color around your pool. One backyard pool landscaping idea is to plant annuals limited to a single color. If you like purple, use purple salvia, purple pansies, asters in shades of purple, etc. If you like a lot of color, a mix of all different types of flowers will give your garden an informal, fun look.
Pots. Don’t forget pots for your deck or at the base of your stairs to enter the pool. Pots of different heights are more attractive and are easy to maintain.
Taking time to plan your landscape for your backyard above-ground pool will make your pool an attractive and inviting feature in your backyard for years to come.
