Pool planting ideas – 5 inspiring ways to create your very own backyard oasis

When you're creating your perfect backyard pool area, it can be easy to get caught up in the hard landscaping and forget about the thing that brings this space to life - greenery.

With so many pool ideas to explore, it can be hard to know where to get started with pool planting. You can design your pool area in many ways to create different environments and suit different aesthetics. Whether you want to create a tropical escape in your backyard or want a vast, open space to host friends and family for a swim, there are careful choices you can make in pool planting to get the results you want.

Pool designers say there are a few things to take into consideration when planning your pool planting. From trees to flowers and how to arrange your plants around your pool, we've compiled some of the most beautiful and serene pool planting ideas for you to consider.

5 stunning pool planting ideas

It isn't just a case of planting around your pool to fulfil aesthetics, as the choice of plants can also impact things like garden shade and even how much pool maintenance you will have to do. Here are some pool planting ideas to get you thinking, with advice from pool design experts.

1. Use tall trees to create shade

We tend to use our swimming pools the most in summer, when temperatures are high and a dip in the water can cool us down. But you might also want to lounge around on your pool deck and enjoy being by the water. This is where trees come in, offering shade that keeps you cool when the weather is hot.

While there are plenty of trees for shade to choose from, it's important to think twice when finding the right one for your poolside because there are a handful of the worst trees to plant near a pool you should avoid.

'When choosing trees to plant near your pool, try to pick ones that won't create a lot of extra work for you. Some trees drop lots of leaves, pollen, or seeds at various times throughout the year, which makes it harder to keep your pool clean, balanced and sanitized,' says Alicia Toedter, Education and Content Leader at Leslie’s, a pool and spa care retailer.

Pine trees, for example, although large and able to cast shade over your pool area, may drop needles into your pool and leave you spending more time using a pool vacuum than the pool itself.

Pool expert Rafi Friedman, from Coastal Luxury Outdoors, recommends the popular choice of palm trees for a poolside. 'In addition to adding to the tropical aesthetic, they don't drop their leaves often, so they're low-maintenance,' he says.

There is a wide range of palm tree varieties, like this windmill palm tree from Fast Growing Trees or this smaller majesty palm tree from Fast Growing Trees, all of which produce a charming canopy.

'Trees with deep or spreading roots can also cause significant damage to your pool and the pipes underground,' warns Alicia. It's always worth researching how far away to plant specific trees from hard landscaping to ensure roots don't damage your pool or patio.

Alicia Toedter

Alicia is the Education and Content Leader at Leslie’s, the leading pool and spa care brand in the US. Over the past five years, Alicia has dedicated herself to pool-care education, and she has a passion for creating engaging written and video content to help homeowners learn more about safely enjoying their pools.

Rafi Friedman

Rafi Friedman is the president of Coastal Luxury Outdoors, a pool building, construction, and cleaning company based in Florida. Coastal Luxury Outdoors provides a five-star service to over 1,000 clients, building more than 100 pools annually.

2. Plant layers of shrubs for privacy

While enjoying your pool, you might be keen to have some privacy. That's why choosing among the best shrubs for privacy is a great idea for backyard pool planting.

'When using shrubs and other plants for privacy screening around pools, layering is key. Plant low-growing plants closer to the pool, and add successive layers of taller shrubs as you move towards your lot line,' Rafi suggests. 'The multiple layers will provide better privacy than any one row of plants.'

Planting in this manner is an effective way to create garden screening around your pool area. It also gives your pool space a sense of enclosure, transforming it into a beautiful escape right on your back doorstep.

Going a step further, you can opt for evergreen shrubs so that your pool area benefits from greenery throughout the year. 'Arborvitae shrubs, available at Nature Hills, are a popular choice; they grow tall and dense, creating a natural privacy screen,' says Alicia.

Just like choosing trees, it's best to avoid shrubs that may drop lots of plant material into your pool. 'It only adds to the amount of time you’ll spend cleaning the pool each week,' says Alicia.

Why not try adding some ornamental grasses for privacy among your shrub planting to add texture and strengthen your garden screen?

3. Create eye-catching containers

It's not all about being able to create the perfect hideaway, as experts say your pool planting should also include plenty of color and bright interest.

The joy of container gardening is that you can create gorgeous planting and move it as close to your pool as you like, and even move it if you change your mind about its position.

Many gardeners swear by thriller, spiller, and filler container plants, whereby you create a container that has a statement piece, a trailing plant and plants to fill gaps. It offers plenty of interest for the eyes, has different heights, and ensures you have a range of textures.

This is the perfect opportunity to bring your favourite flowers to your poolside and brighten up the area. You can personalise your containers exactly as you wish and can even make them a year-round feature by sprucing up your spring containers for summer and other seasons, too.

Opt for late-summer flowers to enjoy while you sit around your pool when evenings are still warm, and avoid placing your container plants for pollinators in this space if you don't want to be interrupted by bees and butterflies while swimming.

This is also a great way to tie in the colors of hard landscaping by choosing planters of different materials and colors. Terracotta planters, like these ceramic pot planters from Wayfair, can be perfect if you want your pool area to have a Mediterranean garden feel.

4. Opt for topical plants

This is essential if you aim to make your pool space feel like you're stepping into a tropical paradise. Luckily, there are so many tropical plants that will grow across warmer US hardiness zones during summer.

'You need to choose plants that can withstand temperatures above ambient (due to being surrounded by hardscaping like cement or pool decking that absorbs and radiates heat), as well as plants that can survive splashes of chlorinated or salt water,' says Marek Bowers, a drought-tolerant gardener and founder of Bolder Green.

Marek favors birds of paradise plants, or Strelitzia reginae, next to pools for these reasons. 'I also like hibiscus for a pop of color and a tropical vibe,' he adds. 'For smaller landscaping elements, I'd plant some hardy succulents, but stay away from spiky ones to avoid injury.'

There are so many tropical garden ideas to explore, many of which can be adapted to a poolside. Try using a mixture of tropical trees, shrubs and flowers to complete the look and create your dream oasis.

Marek Bowers

Marek is a sustainable landscaper and an expert on California and Colorado low-water rebates. Marek's website, Bolder Green, is a guide to eco-friendly gardening. Through his articles on drought-tolerant landscaping and xeriscaping, readers will learn how to design stunning gardens that conserve water and support wildlife, all while adding beauty to their outdoor spaces.

5. Incorporate rocks and gravel for a natural look

While technically not planting, you can use rocks and gravel within your pool planting to achieve a natural pool look. By adding a rock garden alongside your pool, or using rocks and gravel to fill pool borders, it can feel like you're transported to a natural spring right in your yard.

Landscaping ideas with rocks are endless and you can get creative. Whether you're using boulders, or even faux rocks available at Amazon, or just pea gravel, available at Walmart, you can uplift your planting to give the space a natural touch.

You can even use rocks to connect your planting to your pool by incorporating a range of water features, such as creating a rock waterfall surrounded by greenery, as pictured above, or even a rock pool at the side of your swimming pool, with plenty of pond plants.

FAQs

What plants should you avoid having around a pool?

Plants are an excellent addition to backyard pool areas, offering greenery and adding serenity to the space. However, there are a range of plants you should avoid having around a pool, as it could leave your pool in a worse state or disturb your ability to relax in this area of your yard. This includes any plants that drop a large amount of debris, those that attract lots of pollinators and even fruiting plants that may stain pool covers when they drop berries or pods. Likewise, you should be wary of trees and shrubs with spreading roots that may damage pools and paving beneath the ground.

Don't underestimate just how much pool planting can transform your pool space. From greenery to bright florals and a natural garden screen, planting is an essential element of creating the perfect backyard oasis.

Once you have your pool landscaping and pool planting perfected, it might be time to consider pool lighting ideas so that you can enjoy your pool into the night and illuminate the wonderful plants you now have along the poolside.