Pool Planting

In our climate, a swimming pool is regarded by many as essential and an inherent part of the garden but the strong, even harsh outlines need to be softened by plantings of some kind.

The pool and its surroundings can be a separate entity in the garden, or it can be almost part of the home, with paving extending from the house to the pool. There are several choices. One can choose a lush tropical look, with luxuriant vegetation bringing a natural look to the water, or a rather formal look with neat walls enclosing surrounding beds. Paving and containers can play a large part in the décor, and shrubs or trees can bring welcome shade. There are several things to think about when planning pool planting.

A windbreak may be necessary, which could be in the form of a solid wall, or trees and shrubs, preferably evergreen, and far enough from the pool so that falling leaves and unwanted shade do not cause problems. When you are planting a small tree, try to visualise it when it is fully grown.

The path of the sun will obviously have an effect on light and shade and the placing of large trees must therefore take this into account. Placed close to the northern side of the pool, a large evergreen tree will cast its shade on the pool in winter, and bring welcome shade in summer without actually shading the pool whereas, if it is planted close to the southern side it could shade the pool in summer, when it is in full use. Deciduous or evergreen? Falling leaves near a pool are always a nuisance. Deciduous trees let all their leaves fall in autumn, so the tedious task of collecting them is at least confined. Evergreens on the other hand, let fall a few leaves at a time which means constant cleaning and sweeping. If children are frequent users of the pool, plants bearing thorns should be avoided.

Flowering trees can look lovely, but flowers have to fall. If they land in the water then there will be additional cleaning required and if they fall onto the surrounding paving they could cause dangerous slipperiness. Soil washed into the pool will be a nuisance, so make sure you avoid this happening. Any beds should be carefully enclosed with bricks or cobbles, to create a sort of container, with a drain at the base to carry excess water away. If gaps for planting are left in the paving around the pool, the soil level in them should be below that of the paving. In addition, a slight slope away from the pool will mean no water or soil will be washed into the pool.

A pool need not be merely a facility, with careful forethought, it can be a valuable addition to any garden.

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