| Key takeaways |
|---|
| • Artificial turf is increasingly popular around pools, but proper drainage is critical to avoid foundation issues. • Choose plants that drop minimal debris to keep your pool skimmer from working overtime. • Hardscaping does as much visual work as plants in a poolscape, so choose materials that reflect heat and resist salt. • Fencing is a safety and legal requirement in most jurisdictions, so plan for it from the start. |
Worried that the view from your diving board leaves something to be desired? Before you send out invites for your summer pool party, take a little time to consider your poolside landscaping.
Choosing the right plants, hardscape features, lighting, and fencing will make the landscape around your in-ground pool more functional, safe, and beautiful for you and your guests. If you need a hand, Lawn Love connects you with local landscaping pros who can do the work for you.
Ground cover options for around the pool
The area immediately surrounding your pool deck takes a beating from heat, foot traffic, splashing, and seasonal changes. Here are your main options:
Turfgrass vs. artificial grass
Both real and artificial grass can soften the look of a hard pool surround. Synthetic turf is increasingly popular because it stays green all year without mowing, fertilizing, or tricky edging right next to the water.
Let’s consider the pros and cons of artificial grass and turfgrass:
| Feature | Turfgrass | Artificial grass |
| Softens the look of hard pool surrounds | Yes | Yes |
| Requires water, fertilizer, and mowing | Yes | No |
| Looks great (with appropriate maintenance) all year | Sometimes | Yes |
| Higher upfront cost | No | Yes |
| Works well in shade or sun | Yes | Yes |
Keep in mind that installing ground cover near a pool requires careful planning. Steve Rice, owner at Lawn Kings in Valencia, California, warns about poor installation.
“A big mistake I see with drainage around pool decks is homeowners installing artificial turf or decorative rock flush against the coping without a proper slope or drain channel. This traps water and pushes it back under the deck or into the base. I have had to redo jobs where that led to shifting pavers within a year.”
Chris Koester, president at Elite Construction & Custom Pools in Waller, Texas, sees even worse structural damage from bad drainage.
“The biggest drainage error is failing to install dedicated drainage channels or swales between artificial turf and the deck. This leads to water pooling that destabilizes our local expansive clay soils,” Koester says.
“This oversight causes the bond beam to shift and creates structural cracks that are incredibly difficult to correct once the project is finished,” he says.
Mulch and rocks
Mulch and rocks are a low-maintenance grass alternative (as long as you weed periodically). This eliminates the edging problem and creates defined spaces for shrubs, trees, and flowering perennials. River rock and pea gravel are popular choices right next to the pool deck as they’re durable, drain well, and stay in place.
Best plants for a pool landscape
Plant selection around a pool depends on sun exposure and leaf litter. Dropped leaves, seed pods, and flower petals go straight into the pool and into your skimmer.
When picking plants, you also need to think about your root systems. Lucas Pimenta, owner of Neway Pools with over 20 years of experience installing pools across North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, has a strict rule.
“Strictly avoid ficus trees due to their invasive, moisture-seeking roots,” Pimenta says. “Consider dwarf Palmettos for a low-maintenance, low-debris alternative that thrives in coastal environments.”
Koester also warns against planting willow trees or oaks near the water, since their aggressive roots will eventually buckle your coping or pierce the plumbing.
Good poolside choices:
- Arborvitae, cypress, yew (or other evergreen shrubs/trees for backyard privacy and minimal leaf litter)
- Liriope and other ornamental grasses
- Small trees, such as various types of palm trees
- Vining flowering plants, such as a climbing rose, for flowering, privacy, and growing over a trellis, pergola, or other tall structure
If you have a saltwater pool, you have more plant options.
“Saltwater systems produce a much steadier, lower chlorine level than traditional pools, which actually means less chemical splash stress on nearby plants,” Koester says.
“I lean toward ornamental grasses, yuccas, and drought-tolerant natives around saltwater builds. They are already low-maintenance in Texas heat and don’t react badly to occasional water contact,” he says.
Hardscape features and decking
Hardscaping is often where a poolscape really comes together. In a backyard poolscape, your imagination (and budget) are your only constraints.
Here are a few examples that would work well in a backyard poolscape:
- Pergola: provides shade, defines a seating area, and creates a natural structure for climbing plants or string lights
- Outdoor kitchen: keeps guests poolside rather than going inside; extends your outdoor living space
- Fire pit: a natural evening gathering spot, especially for swimmers who want warmth after getting out of the pool
- Pavers and walkways: keep feet clean and reduce the amount of grass and dirt tracked into the pool
“For pergola and fire pit placement, I always factor in the natural airflow direction on the property first,” Koester says. “A fire pit placed where the prevailing breeze pushes smoke toward the pool deck kills the experience fast.”
Rice adds that distance matters for durability.
“I typically recommend at least 10 to 15 feet back from the water’s edge, not just for safety but because it keeps splashing and corrosion from shortening the life of those structures.”
When choosing decking materials for a saltwater pool, be very careful with natural stone.
“The biggest thing I warn clients about is that saltwater systems accelerate corrosion on natural stone like travertine and certain mortared coping joints,” Pimenta explains.
“In our coastal Florida builds especially, we lean toward porcelain pavers near salt pools specifically because they don’t absorb moisture or react to salt exposure the way natural stone does over time,” Pimenta says.
Lighting ideas
Good pool lighting extends how long you actually use the space. Three high-impact options:
- LED string lights: run across the pool area or over a pergola for warm ambient light. Cost-effective and easy to DIY.
- Solar path lights: mark the route from the house to the pool. No wiring required, and they look polished.
- In-pool LED lights: if you’re still using older incandescent pool lights, LEDs use up to 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer, with color-changing options available.
“With lighting, my top rule is to keep fixtures low and indirect,” Rice says. “Aim light across walking paths instead of toward the water. Once you get glare bouncing off the pool surface, it not only looks harsh but actually makes it harder to see edges safely.”
Important: Remember, electricity and water don’t mix. If you’re at all unsure how to manage your in-pool or landscape lighting, consult with a professional to get the job done safely.
Shade and seating
Swimming pools are ideal gathering places for friends and family. Since not everyone will want to swim, it’s important to provide a nice place for your other guests to sit and relax:
- Umbrella and lounge chairs: simple, moveable, and versatile
- Vine-covered pergola: train climbing plants over the structure for shade that improves every season
- Covered deck: a roofed deck overlooking the pool provides permanent shade and a second vantage point for watching swimmers
If you are so fortunate as to have a shade tree in your backyard, this may be the perfect place to sit under and relax on days when you’d like to stay high and dry.
Fencing and safety
Whether you inherit a swimming pool with a new house or install a new pool yourself, let safety be your priority. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 81% of fatal pool drownings involving children under 15 occur in home pools. A good place to start is with a fence.
Most jurisdictions require some form of pool barrier, and regulations vary by city, county, and state. The International Swimming Pool and Spa Code lays out basic guidelines, but the pool fence or cage doesn’t have to be an unattractive addition to your landscape.
“Frameless glass panel systems are what I am seeing clients gravitate toward right now,” Koester says. “They satisfy code, don’t visually chop up the backyard, and when you have put serious money into a custom pool, the last thing you want is a fence that hides it.”
If glass is not in your budget, Rice says that black aluminum fencing is a great alternative because it visually disappears while still doing its job.
Pool cages and screen enclosures are another popular option, especially in states like Florida. They count as an official safety barrier, and they have the added bonus of keeping bugs and leaves out of your pool.
Mosquito control
Landscaping around your in-ground pool is as much about what you do want around your pool as what you don’t. One thing you don’t want? Mosquitoes.
“For mosquito deterrence, the conversation most people skip is drainage,” Pimenta says. “Standing water in poorly graded planting beds right beside the pool deck is the real culprit, not the plant choices.
“We always engineer proper stormwater drainage into our Georgia and NC builds before we discuss what goes in the beds, because no amount of lavender fixes a bed that holds water for three days after rain,” he continues.
To avoid mosquitoes in the off-season, cover the pool with a tight cover that doesn’t have gaps to allow bugs inside. Also, use a pool cover pump to remove standing water on top of the cover at least once per week. A mesh leaf net will help to keep leaves and debris off the cover in the fall.
FAQs
Most modern safety codes require a no‑climb zone next to the pool fence that must stay clear of trees, tall shrubs, or furniture for at least about 30–36 inches. Within this area you shouldn’t have any branches or shrubs a child could grab to climb over.
You technically can, but it’s not a great idea. If you put soil and mulch right on the deck, you’re trapping moisture against the concrete or pavers, which can speed up cracking in freeze, thaw or wet climates, plus you’re guaranteeing dirt and petals washing into the pool.
You can add aromatic plants for an extra layer of defense, especially against mosquitoes.
“I’ve had good results planting lavender, rosemary, and citronella near seating areas, and I always avoid organic mulches that stay damp, since they become breeding grounds,” Rice says.
Beyond mosquitoes, a few other plants can help ward against a wider range of poolside pests:
• Lemongrass: It repels mosquitoes and helps deter wasps
• Marigolds: It’s a low-maintenance annual that repels mosquitoes, whiteflies, and aphids
• Basil: It works against mosquitoes and flies
• Lemon-scented geraniums: The citrusy fragrance deters mosquitoes and bees
Leave the pool landscaping to a pro
Getting pool landscaping right takes practice, the right equipment, and a lot of free time. You don’t have to spend your weekends pulling weeds and planting shrubs.
If you’d rather leave it to someone who does this every day, Lawn Love helps you connect with local landscaping pros who can handle your lawn care and landscaping needs so you can just relax and enjoy the water.
Main Image: A luxurious backyard with a swimming pool, manicured lawn, and lush tropical landscaping. Photo Credit: danang / Adobe Stock
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