Once your pool has been installed, the next step is to complete your backyard oasis with landscaping that suits your needs and creates colour and interest without needing too much maintenance. A well-designed outdoor living area can boost the resale value of your home.
The following are a few tips for designing an outdoor living space around the pool.
Choosing a Design
As with a pool, gardens should start with a well thought out design. You can do your own research or hire a professional designer. If you choose to work with a landscape designer, make sure to check the person’s references and reputation.
When deciding on a landscape design, some general points to consider include:
- Your personal taste – Carry on the style inside your home to the outside
- Colours – Use your favourite colours as found in your home décor and fashion choices
- Maintenance – Deciding how many hours a week you want to spend tending to your garden will help to determine the complexity of your landscaping plan. However, you can always hire someone do the upkeep if that’s within your budget
- Budget – On average, your total landscaping budget should represent about 15 to 20 percent of the value of your property
Proper Soil Preparation
Proper soil preparation is the key to ensuring that your plants last long-term. First, determine the type of soil you have then supplement it with the appropriate additives. These additives may include peat moss, manure, compost, fertilizer and so on.
Choosing Trees
Trees should be the first consideration as they form the framework of your landscape plan. For areas around the pool, choose trees that don’t shed much and whose growth can be easily controlled. Trees to consider include:
- Paperbark
- Maple
- Copper beech
- Flowering dogwood
If you need a shade tree, think lindens or locust but keep in mind that these varieties need professional pruning as they mature, which will mean extra costs in the future. Evergreens are always at home in the Canadian landscape. White pines and hemlocks can give a very natural feel to outdoor spaces, while cedars and yews add a touch of formality; if that’s the look you’re going for.
Well-positioned trees can offer privacy, wind protection and an ideal shelter for visiting birds.
Added Features
Landscaping isn’t just about grass and plants. When planning your backyard landscaping, you may want to consider incorporating such things as fire pits and fountains in and around flowerbeds and planters. You’ll also want to include lighting features in your design as well.
Quick Tips
Some things to keep in mind:
- Use stone and brick as edging to break up the flow from the concrete decking
- Don’t crowd the pool area with plants and lights
- Use potted plants close to the pool and keep flower beds and materials like mulch farther away
For the area around the pool you can use ivy for ground cover, shrubs, ornamental grasses and long-blooming flowers. Avoid prickly shrubs like barberry, pyracantha, and hawthorn or the sharp/spiky foliage of hollies and junipers.