Once you have your pool installed you will want to make the landscaping around it attractive and this usually means a garden somewhere in the vicinity. Not only will living plants soften the look of all that concrete, they will work with other components to create an area that is relaxing and beautiful. However, you do need to plan it all carefully and take care in choosing the plants. Here are some tips that will help you.

Protect Your Pool

Most plants drop debris as they go through their cycle of growing, blooming, seeding and dying. A sudden gust of wind is likely to sweep all this debris into your pool, changing the PH of the water. Leaves and other debris from nearby flowers or trees can clog up the filter and even become a slipping hazard if they are not removed promptly. But many plants have minimal leaf loss and they last for years. These are the kind of plants that you need to choose for your pool garden, especially if it is really close to the pool.

However, if the ground slopes away from the pool and the garden is below it, you may not need to worry too much about the kind of plants you have in it, especially if you don’t live in a windy area.  Another way to keep debris to a minimum is to use pebbles or pine bark as a mulch to ensure the dirt does not wash out of the garden. Enclosing it all with a low fence or edging will also help to contain the plant debris.

Protect the Plants

Not all plants would do well in a spot near the pool. Diseases caused by humidity are sure to attack those plants that are prone to them because there will always be more humidity surrounding the pool.

If you have boisterous children that do lots of splashing and the garden is close to the pool, water is sure to be splashed onto the plants. On a scorching hot day, water on tender leaves and shoots can cause them to burn. And if you have a salt pool, there will certainly be a problem if it gets on the plants or into the soil.

However, these problems can be addressed by careful planning and making sure the garden is not too close and the plants are hardy.

Protect the Swimmers

Children rarely look where they are going especially when they are eager to jump into the pool. It is essential not to have plants that are thorny or spiky growing in a pool garden. Even if the pathway does not lead directly past the plants, pieces can die and fall off and the wind can blow them right where little feet tread. Even trees that drop brittle seedpods can be dangerous near the pool; if children tread on them a nasty cut can result.

Protect the Pipes

Tree roots and pipes in the same area is not a good idea. Most tree roots are invasive when they are seeking moisture and they can crack the pipes or damage the pool over time, you will want to avoid them if you want minimal pool maintenance. And the leaves are sure to blow into the pool, so it is better to keep trees away. If you need shade, install a shade cloth.

Once these few problems have been taken care of you will be able to relax by your pool, knowing that nothing will harm it or the people that have fun in it.