The Mid-Atlantic hasn’t historically been a “pool on every block” part of the country. But with rising incomes and bigger lots, that’s definitely changing in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. The Northern Virginia poolscape is becoming an in-demand service for landscapers. Clients want a relaxing space to enjoy with family and friends, and we’re quite accomplished at creating a lush, inviting look with hardy, low-maintenance plants.
Planting Around the Pool: Things to Consider
We know that individual tastes are as different as the individuals we work with, but there are a few rules of thumb we like to follow as we recommend the best shrubs, trees and plants for your backyard pool. Here are a few things to consider:
- Most backyard pools are located in full sun, so choose plants that tolerate hotter than normal temperatures.
- Pools tend to create high-traffic areas, and children are usually spending plenty of time going back and forth from house to pool. Use hardscaping elements to protect plants in busy areas, and avoid plants with thorns around the pool.
- We don’t want to create messes to clean up with our poolside plantings. We try to avoid trees that have blooms or fruit that will fall into the pool and evergreens that frequently shed needles.
- Avoid plants and trees that attract insects. We’re all about being friendly to the environment, but bees around pools are not a great combination.
- Consider what every plant’s footprint will be at full growth, and avoid plants whose roots may cause problems down the road.
- Privacy is paramount: hedges and trees are ideal for creating that sense of seclusion.
- Chlorine and pool chemicals won’t hurt your plants through routine splashing. Most plants, like most people, can easily tolerate the chlorine levels found in pool water, but we don’t recommend draining your pool onto your landscaping.
What Should I Plant Around My Northern Virginia Pool?
Your individual plant choices will depend on the atmosphere you’re looking to create, your location and your budget. One reason working with a professional landscaper is so important is that you want to make sound choices the first time around. We’ll help you to pick just the right trees, shrubs, flowers and plants for your pool. To give you an idea of the trends, here are some of our favorites:
- Ornamental grasses like fescue, reed grass, switchgrass and oat grass look elegant around the pool. They’re hardy, low maintenance and relatively inexpensive.
- We’re big fans of shrubs around the pool. They offer privacy and look great without requiring a huge amount of work. Some of our favorites are non-flowering shrubs, including soft-leaf hollies, yew bushes and boxwood, a Loudoun County favorite. Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas and viburnum give gorgeous splashes of color without attracting bees to the pool area.
- Trees are also excellent privacy barriers. In Northern Virginia, evergreens make an excellent choice around the pool. Some of our favorites are cypress, arborvitae and the southern classic– magnolia.
- When choosing flowers, look for a choice that will add vibrant color but won’t drop blossoms or require too much maintenance. Native plants like coneflower create a wild, meadowy look around the pool, while hardy tropical flowers like hibiscus add an island flair.
- Easy-care succulents are all the rage. They’re low maintenance and don’t drop leaves, fruit or flowers. Some of our top picks are aloe, certain types of agave and the Mexican superstar echeveria.
- Hardy vines look terrific on some hardscaping features like decorative stonework. We like easy-care perennials like Creeping Jenny and Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine in planters or hanging on trellises near the pool.
Trust Epling for the Perfect Poolside
Putting in a pool is an investment, with families spending tens of thousands of dollars to create an outdoor space where they can enjoy quality time with family and friends. So it makes sense to go the extra mile with the best landscaping. Choosing a professional landscape company means finding a partner with the expertise to help you make the best decisions for an inviting pool area. Epling has years of experience working with clients and pool companies to create the perfect outdoor space.
