1. 43
E
nhancing your pool area with soft
landscaping is a great way to provide
shade, wind protection and privacy from
nosy neighbours. With a little thought and
careful planning, you can use plants to transform
your pool into a tropical oasis. To ensure your
gardening efforts don’t go to waste, Sydney Pool
+ Outdoor Design provides some top tips on how
to make the most out of your poolside garden.
If you ask anyone with a green thumb what the
most important rule of gardening is, the answer
will almost always be the same: do your research!
The environment around your pool will usually
determine the plants you can choose from,
because just like animals, different plants require
different living conditions to grow properly. From
plenty of sunlight to enough water, space or soil,
there’s a lot to consider when it comes to the
plant species you can use. It’s also particularly
essential to pay close attention to your plants’
needs, especially when they’re exposed to your
swimming pool.
FATAL ATTRACTION
Mastering your poolside gardening can be tricky,
but these simple guidelines will help ensure your
pool area grows into the beautiful space you have
always envisaged.
Try to avoid trees or plants that are susceptible to
shedding, not just in autumn, but all year round.
Fallen leaves are notorious for staining pool
paving and coping and clogging up expensive
cleaning and filtration equipment. Leaves left on
the pool floor can also cause discolouration to
the lining and easily result in costly repairs.
Plants with invasive root systems should also be
avoided at all costs, especially if your pool is still
When pools are involved, there’s a
fine line between creating the Garden
of Eden and a barren landscape.
Lush greenery and thriving plants
are supposed to bring your garden to
life, but the wrong choices can do just
the opposite. Here, April Davis looks
at the dos and don’ts of poolside
gardening.
CorfuPools
under warranty. A large oak tree, for example, is
a bad choice for your pool area because its roots
will spread and destroy your pool shell, as well
as its edging and any hard landscaping installed
in the area. Bamboo, umbrella and rubber trees
are clear winners aesthetically, however, they
often cause extensive damage to underground
plumbing and paving. It’s also important to
remember that most pool manufacturing and
design companies won’t cover any plant damage
under their warranties.
On the other hand, a pool-friendly and hardy plant
will be able to withstand a number of factors,
including full sun or shade, wind and intermittent
exposure to salt or chlorine splashes. Despite all of
these restrictions, there’s an abundance of native
and exotic plants that are perfect for your poolside.
The species you choose, however, will depend on
whether your pool is saltwater or chlorinated.
SALTY BUT DEADLY
Over the years there has been much debate
over which type of pool is better, saltwater or
chlorinated. While there may be no clear-cut
winner, salt can be just as deadly for some plants
as chlorine is for others. Saltwater splashing
on plants that can’t tolerate large amounts of
sodium can be fatal, or at the very least, leave
your soft landscaping looking dull and lifeless.
Plants with silvery, furry, or waxy leaves are
usually the best types to use around saltwater
pools. Some good examples of these are
agave attenuate, bromeliads, echiums, cycads,
westringia, coastal banksia, chinese hibiscus,
olive trees and rosemary. Mixtures of palms
are also good because they can withstand salt
exposure and provide good shade.
CHEMICAL REACTION
Chlorine is a powerful chemical that’s very
good at disinfecting a pool and killing bacteria.
Consistent exposure to the chemicals in chlorine,
however, can have negative effects on your
garden. Watering your plants with normal tap
water that contains small levels of chlorine will
be harmless, but the amounts used to keep pools
clean can cause wilting and even rot in the leaves
of your beautiful plants.
As a general rule, plants with tough, leathery
leaves can better withstand chemical damage
from chlorine. Mondo grass, cordyline and star
jasmine are good examples of these and are
popular options to use around chlorinated pools.
If you incorporate a selection of hardy plants by
your poolside, water splashed on them through
normal pool use shouldn’t cause any problems.
Deciduous plants, such as frangipani, however,
are best avoided.
SAFETY FIRST
Finally, once you’re confident you have selected
plants that will thrive by your poolside, you will
also need to consider how they will affect your
lifestyle. If you have young children, or enjoy
entertaining outdoors, some simple safety
considerations will be worthwhile.
As lovely as roses, cacti and a range of succulents
are, they also pose a threat to the safety of pool-
goers. As much as you tell your kids not to run by
the pool, they always will, and the last thing you
want is them slipping and falling into a sharp and
prickly bush.
Another safety issue that can easily slip your
mind is the prevalence of bees and wasps around
certain plant species. As harmless as they seem
buzzing around in the air, they can quickly become
a pest when they mistake happy swimmers for
an enticing honeysuckle or bottlebrush. To try
and keep the bees or wasps away, avoid sweet
clovers, delphinium, queen anne’s lace, wisteria,
larkspur, and lavender. These species quickly
become a hive of activity during prime swimming
season and are a major pain, especially if
you’re allergic.
Poolside gardening can be incredibly rewarding
and is the perfect addition to any outdoor
landscaping. With a little thought and planning
you can transform your pool into a luxurious
haven, which means you can spend more time
enjoying yourself and less time worrying about
the plant life.
Risky
Business