Poolside Landscaping for the Summer Months

Too many people treat poolside landscaping as an afterthought. It’s time to consider the practicality of plants in their poolside setting, especially during the hot summer months.

Here are some tips for coming up with the right mix of plants that will undoubtedly survive these next few months of harsh temperatures.

• Soil is incredibly important in poolside landscaping so select plants that require fertile and well-draining soil to thrive. Not only will these plants likely be more heat resistant, but soil that drains quickly can help protect plants against the heat
• Choose plants that are heat resistant and that can withstand the reflective heat of the sun hitting the pool deck and other solid surfaces around the pool area.
• Opt for plants that do not produce a ton of foliage or that do not lots of pollen. There is nothing worse than having to continuously pull leaves out of your water or having to scrub your pool deck to remove residual leaf stains.
• Select plants that do not require heavy fertilization. Fertilizers can stain pool decks, but they can also provide nutrients to things like algae if they end up in the water.

Your local nursery is a great source for advice on the types of plants that fit these guidelines. Most importantly, choose landscaping and plants that you like and that will provide a visual compliment to your pool year-round. Have fun with it and keeps these tips in mind and you should be able to maintain a beautiful and practical poolside environment regardless of the season.