November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
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Backyard landscaping is a great way to create a relaxing environment for family and friends to have fun and enjoy being by the pool. Designing your ideal outdoor landscape doesn’t have to be an unattainable luxury. Here are a few examples of projects that will increase your pool’s utility and appeal.
Project 1: Install hardscaping
Hardscaping can add beauty and safety to the area around your pool. As a great first step in any poolscape design, this project will help spruce up the look of your yard and can set the stage for future outdoor additions like lounge areas or outdoor kitchens. Depending on the types of materials you select, hardscaping can add warmth and character, in addition to safe walking areas and paths, to your pool area.
Some examples of materials that can be used in hardscape design include various types and textures of brick, concrete and stone. Slip-resistant concrete surfacing options are a great way to ensure your pool is a safe place for family and friends—even after a little splashing.
Doug Lockwood, senior landscape designer with Southern Blue Lawn & Landscaping, says certain considerations must be made when initiating hardscaping plans. First, plan accordingly for the size of your hardscape area. If you have children or frequently entertain, for example, include more paved space to keep debris like grass or mulch out of your pool. The openness will also give you a versatile area where you can install a fire pit, set up playthings or add a few lounge chairs.
Another great option for hardscaping is a wooden deck. A treated, wooden deck is a weather-resistant structure that is a beneficial addition to any above-ground pool. A deck can offer your family the space it needs to entertain, play and relax poolside.
Fences and gates aren’t just integral safety measures for families that have children, they’re also great poolside additions that enhance privacy and design. Train vines to grow on your fence and place trees and plants all around for a natural look. Offset your entire hardscape design with strategic outdoor lighting and you’ll soon have an enviable, resort-style pool.
Project 2: Incorporate plants and foliage
Plants can help your pool blend in naturally with its surrounding environment. They can add privacy to your yard and turn your pool into a garden-style oasis. Choosing the right variety is important to making sure this addition is both attractive and easy to maintain.
“There are plants that require little maintenance and are good choices near swimming pools,” says Lockwood. “These plants can create character, add privacy and reduce maintenance costs.”
Trees are great permanent options if creating a quiet haven is your design goal. But if pool maintenance is a concern, opt for a variety that won’t drop leaves or flowers in your pool such as broadleaf evergreens. Hedges and bushes are another great way to incorporate privacy to your poolside setting with this thick and hardy variety. Unsurprisingly, low maintenance plants reflect the latest in landscaping trends. Not sure about what style is right for you? Choose from some of these varieties to create your desired landscape:
- Ornamental grasses are a low maintenance and low price landscaping option. They flower by late summer, and hold a rich tan color throughout the winter. They are resilient plants that can withstand the occasional trampling of passing swimmers.
- To add some color and texture to your pool’s landscape, look at foliage plants, which are characterized by their red, yellow, or purple leaves. They will stay all season and are an easy way to add color and texture to your yard. Foliage plants range from varieties of ferns to caladiums, and typically need direct sunlight and fresh soil every year to flourish. Depending on the variety, and the look you want to achieve, these plants can range in size from 6 inches, to over 20 feet.
- Long blooming plants, such as chrysanthemums and daisies, are another low maintenance option for poolscapes. These plants will add a vibrancy that will breath new life into your poolscape. Perennials need little more than watering and sun to survive, so you won’t be trapped by endless upkeep.
Project 3: Add outdoor lighting
More often than not, entertaining is a major consideration for pool owners. Outdoor lighting not only helps to beautify your pool, but allows you to enjoy it long after the sun has set. Lighting is also a high-value way to enhance your poolscape.
“You’ll feel like you’re at a resort,” says Richard Cording of CLC Landscape Design based in Ringwood, N.J. “[Lighting] looks nice and extends the usable hours of your pool.”
A well-lit pool is a great way to ensure evening swimmers are safe. And you don’t have to sacrifice style to have a well-lit backyard. Opt for in-ground landscape lighting to show off the appearance of your garden, or choose hanging pendant lights as accents to a lounge or seating area. Depending on the style and design you choose, lighting is also a great way to add ambiance. There are many low voltage and solar lighting options that are inexpensive and easy to install. Look for high and low voltage poolside lights that are waterproof to prevent electrical shock.
From wall sconces to rustic fixtures like mission lamps, there are many outdoor ornamentation options to choose from. This project is a simple, aesthetically pleasing way to make your pool a popular, and well-lit, entertainment destination.
Outdoor landscaping is a great way to maximize the use and enjoyment of your pool. Whether you incorporate one of these projects, or tips from all three, the options are endless for creating your personalized poolscape design.
