Selecting the Right Plants for Your Poolside Landscape
Nothing beats having a private pool to enjoy on a hot summer day. Pools are often a centerpiece of the Santa Barbara homeowner’s backyard, boasting beautiful paving materials, luxurious furnishings, and lush landscaping. However, pool mechanisms and the nature of swimming and sunbathing activities require that the plants near a pool need to follow some important guidelines. There are, fortunately, many choices within these guidelines that will still greatly enhance the look of your outdoor oasis.
1. Avoid leaves that can clog the pool system. Plants with small leaves, especially those that drop them often or with the changing seasons, should not be planted near a pool. Rather, favor plants with larger leaves that are easier to gather up and remove. Consider evergreens, as well.
2. Look out for spikes. Succulents and cacti right near a pool might look nice, but the ones with sharp needles, spines, and spikes can create an uneasiness for swimmers as they walk along the pool deck. Be sure to save these plants for beds that are at least a few feet outside all paved areas.
3. Keep pathways clean. You and your guests will be walking barefoot along your pool surround and therefore you’ll want to keep these areas free of debris that can be unpleasant to step on. Avoid placing plants that drop fruits, have brittle twigs, or shed bark too close to these areas. Your pool filtering system will appreciate it, too.
4. Consider shade. If your pool is unheated or you like to swim in cooler seasons, look at where the sun hits in relation to where you are considering placing those trees that will eventually have a full canopy. Dense shade can make a pool extra chilly.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN – SANTA BARBARA
When it comes to creating a landscape, homeowners generally fall into two categories: those who itch to start putting plants into the ground themselves and those who recognize a need to hire out the work. Just as it wouldn’t be wise to …
5. Do not attract stinging insects. Younger swimmers especially are frightened by bees and wasps, especially when they’re by the pool. Concentrate sweet, flowering plants to an area that will draw them away from the pool but still serve our pollinator friends.
6. Build privacy. Swimming is most enjoyable when you feel out of the view of neighbors and other potential onlookers. Evaluate the sight lines to your pool from adjacent areas and select densely branched plants or evergreens to create a soft buffer. Vines growing on a fence, too, can provide an attractive way to screen your pool from the public eye.
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