Landscaping Ideas To Make The Most Of Your Above Ground Pool
Do you want to take your outdoor pool from drab to fab? Transforming the area around your aboveground pool into a luxurious oasis is totally doable with thoughtful landscape design. By incorporating hardscaping, greenspaces, vertical accents, and atmospheric elements, you can enhance the beauty and functionality of your poolzone for lounging in the sunshine or having late night bashes with family and friends. Ready to freshen your backyard aesthetic? Here are landscaping concepts for aboveground pools that take the enjoyment factor to the next level.
When planning landscape upgrades, first assess how you'd ideally want to use the space. Would a dining area close to your house be handy for pre and post swim bites? Maybe a small relaxation deck tucked away from the main yard would nurture tranquility? By establishing need based areas before anything else, landscape products will flow into place much easier.
Key Considerations For Landscaping Around Above Ground Pools
While aboveground pool landscapes allow for a myriad of possibilities, certain elements need addressing before moving onto fun stuff like plants and accessories. By taking time to analyze the foundation now, you can ensure maximum enjoyment and longevity from the landscape.
Assessing The Terrain And Yard Size
Identify anything slopes, hills, or uneven areas, as leveling or building upon these may require retaining walls or multi tiered designs. Measure the square footage not just for pool placement, but to determine remaining flat zones for installation of hardscape elements. Knowing your overall dimensions will guide appropriate patio seat numbers, cooking areas, and more. Lastly, note sun and wind exposure. Some plants thrive in constant sunlight and others prefer partial shade.
Understanding Local Building Codes And Safety Standards
Most areas enforce zoning laws regarding structure heights, setbacks from property lines, and use of space regarding livability or leisure. For example, decks higher than 12 inches above ground typically need railing installations for security. Check with your city planning office to confirm specifications, file necessary permits, and firm up insurance needs. Adhering to codes offers security in all senses of the word.
Choosing Low Maintenance Landscaping
Plant selection is hugely dependent on the climate you live in. For tropical zones, vibrant birds of paradise or bougainvillea inserts color along boundaries while conifers thrive better in northern climates. Whatever your location, low maintenance is key for longevity. Faux plants are a booming market for hassle free beauty. Just hose them off routinely.
Hardscaping Ideas To Elevate Above Ground Pool Areas
Hardscaping refers to the structural components surrounding a pool rather than natural elements. Materials like paving stones and concrete are common for fashioning gorgeous, long lasting decks, patios, and walkways. Considerations such as climate, costs, and contemporary design underpin stunning creations.
Using Pavers, Stone Work, Or Concrete To Create A Patio
Patios tie everything together visually and functionally. Simple cement slab designs work well for budgetary builds but concrete pavers add flair through shape configurations. Combinations of large square pavers surrounding smaller diamond cut styles boost aesthetic dimension. Opt for heat resistant and slip proof tiles in spaces that see a lot of water traffic from pool exits. Color coat for added drama.
Incorporating Retaining Walls For Multi-Level Designs
In yards with noticeable slopes, multi height terracing helps. Dry stack stone retaining walls in ascending sizes maximizes square footage usage while preventing soil erosion. Use the reclaimed ground to showcase cascading potted plants or standalone water features near entry steps. Timber retaining beams also suit modern designs.
Adding Walkways And Paths To Improve Access
Connecting all facets together via pathways improves flow and functionality. Use materials that complement existing structures like complementary composite decking or neutral hued flagstones. Consider poured concrete with etched sea creature inlays, quarry tiles, and stamped designs for textural allure underfoot. Widen walkways to 2 metres for wheelchair friendly specifications.
Softscaping Additions To Complement The Pool And Landscaping
Greenery prevents landscapes appearing stark plus they boost privacy, intimacy, oxygenation and visual delights. Remember to select specimens suited to your planting zones regarding light, temperatures, moisture levels and photosynthesis aspects. Formal tree outlining or informal mass shrub plotting both work beautifully.
Selecting Plants And Trees To Provide Natural Shade
Leafy tree selections strategically planted help block harsh sunlight exposure during peak seasons. Opt for deciduous maple trees or evergreen magnolias depending on your personal preferences and growing capability. Under plant with shade tolerant specimen like hostas, hydrangeas or impatiens for vivid ground level pops of color.
Using Flower Beds And Gardens To Add Color
For intensely hued petals, succulents and begonias reign supreme in garden bed plotting while pansies and sweet alyssum infuse pastel charm alongside paving edges. Allow a metre squared spacing for proper germination then fill gaps with organic compost and fertilizer as needed. Weed routinely to prevent choking.
Incorporating Plants That Tolerate Wet Conditions
Areassurrounding above ground pools tend to hold higher moisture levels. Certain speciesactually thrive in these environments like iris, celery, water lettuce and lotus plants. Intersperse them alongside land lubbing variants or confine solely to bog zones away from entertaining spaces. Consider gravel backfilling instead of dirt also.
Privacy Solutions For Seclusion And Security
Screening adds seclusion from nosey neighbours plus fortifies safety measures regarding pool entry. Multiple options outside tall wooden fencing surrounds exist to meld security with style. Just tailor choices to mesh with existing property structures and landscaping ambience preferred.
Installing Screens, Lattice, Or Fencing
Fencing defines boundaries clearly although screens and lattice "hide" protective barriers while allowing breezes to filter through. Lattice framing coated in flowering vines adds natural aesthetic dimension while manufactured privacy screens fuse durability and charm. For contemporary schemes, install frosted tempered glass panels.
Using Hedges, Bushes, And Trellises As Barriers
Perimeter planting prevents uninvited ingress from people and creatures yet remains undulating and organic. Clumping shrubs like compact holly bushes or aligned trellises supporting flowering vines establish virtual walls sans harsh lines. Allow ample space between pool edges and planting to prevent encroaching root systems.
Lighting To Illuminate And Highlight Landscaped Areas
Outdoor lighting subtracts risk while infusing landscapes with ambient charm once the sun dips below the horizon line. Tailor lighting plans to your personal entertaining habits and property layout to ensure adequate vision and added beauty during the evening.
Path Lights On Steps And Walkways
Strategically planted path lights stop visitors and family members slipping on potentially hazardous steps and pathways post sunset. Opt for downward cast directional bulbs encased in weather proof dark housings. Power them via independent hard wiring or integrated solar panels.
Underwater Lights Within The Pool
Submerged pool lighting adds instant luxury and continues the fun once natural light dims. while colored globes establish posh ambience, clear variants showcase the pool itself for light ripple watching. Sync multiple lights to alternating colored sequences via remote.
Spotlights On Architectural Or Plant Elements
Uplighters placed near design focal points instantly draw attention and appreciate landscaping efforts after dark. Use focused beam spotlights upon features you wish to hero like statuettes, architectural formations, trees and special planting zones. Go for corner sconces to frame alfresco living spaces
Water Features To Enhance The Pool Environment
Harnessing the sights and sounds of flowing water energises landscapes with ultra serene air. Small scale standalone water features require little maintenance while upscaling existing pools into cross zoned swim and spa areas adds luxury.
Self contained pond inserts with sprouting fountains establish pretty little waterholes that pets can safely sip from, dragonflies skim over and children delight in watching. Choose sunken designs at ground level or raised variants on composite bases. Some incorporate gentle night time illumination automatically.