Poolscapes are a great way to tie in your landscape with your pool.  For those home owners that do have an out-door pool, consider installing plants and planters to soften the look of your pool.  Poolscapes are basically any landscaping or hardscaping done near or around a pool.  Instead of just installing your pool and pouring a cement pad around it, consider giving your project a natural look.  Natural poolscapes should incorporate low maintenance plants as well as natural stone products.  When choosing ground cover products to use in your landscape, mulch is not recommended.  Mulch can blow away or wash into your pool.  Since wood products float, they can get stuck in your skimmer can cause a variety of problems.  The best ground cover to use around your landscape plants is large rock about 2″ to 3″ stone.  This size stone will reduce the chances of finding its way into your pool.  If some products does accidentally make its way into your pool, it will sink and not be collected in your skimmer.

Poolscapes

Poolscapes for above ground and in ground pools.

The goal of poolscapes for above ground pools is to cover up the exposed sides of the pool.  This can be accomplished in many different ways, including the use of a deck.  For those areas not surrounded by deck material, consider installing shrubs to hide the exterior of the pool.  When choosing shrubs for around your pool, make sure that the plant is hardy and can tolerate possible chlorine contamination.  It is also important to choose plants that will not over take your pool area.  Choose plants that will not grow over the sides of your pool or make a mess in your pool.

In ground pools can be greatly improved by installing natural stone products in the deck area instead of poured cement.  Consider installing planters with annual plants to brighten up the pool area.  Poolscapes help make your pool area more user friendly.