A good blend of the pool or spa along with the other elements of the house can achieve an aesthetic balance in the whole environment. Privacy should be the main concern. Planting trees, fences, walls and screens could do this. Comfort is another criteria for the purpose of soaking, sunning, entertaining and swimming. Safety around the pool must be also planned that is when not in use it should be covered. Including furniture by the poolside for relaxing is a very good option. Choose material that needs very little maintenance. Plant trees and shrubs that drop minimum leaves and flowers in the water, this reduces the maintenance cost.
- The right plants in the landscape near the pool will ensure safety and minimize maintenance
- Utilize container plants, which can be easily inclined, replaced and rearranged. A great advantage of frost-sensitive container plants is that it can be moved indoors for the winter and brought outdoors again during the next spring.
- Make sure that plants, trees and shrubs don't hang over the pool because nearly every variety will drop something into it - leaves, petals, pollen.
- Do not plant trees that have destructive roots. Mulberries and cottonwoods are a big no-no for this reason. .
- Shorter plants leaves and petals get caught in the wind and get carried away in the pool. Use ornamental grasses such as ophiopogon, liriope and maiden grass and small shrubs such as 'Harbour Dwarf' nandina and dwarf yaupon holly.
- Avoid disease and pest prone plants. Choose plants that don't require pruning. Also avoid evergreens because they tend to drop needles, leaves, pine cones, flowers, and acorns
- Make sure you don't place any plant, which has sticky bark or foliage or thorns. Hard yucca (a.k.a. Spanish bayonet), cactus, pyracantha (a.k.a. firethorn) and the ultra-spiny Chinese holly are among the no-nos.
- Do not grow plants that attract stinging insects. Bumblebees flock to Salvia Greggii, so it should not be used.
- Use of good vines, creepers and trees can ensure privacy around the pool. . These include the noninvasive coral honeysuckle ('Gold Flame' is one variety) and Carolina Jasmine.
