You Want Plants That Thrive Around Your Pool
There are some things to consider when looking for trees and plants when landscaping around a swimming pool. So, what are the best trees and plants that will thrive around a pool in NJ?
Now you have spent the money to put in a beautiful pool, and you want your plants to create an atmosphere of the luxurious tropics where you can relax and enjoy the summer.
In addition, do you want to make your pool landscaping create the look of privacy and tropical vacations? Absolutely, and why not?
Here we explore the many choices for poolside landscaping with trees and shrubbery that will survive in New Jersey.
So, let us begin!
To landscape a pool correctly, you will want to choose plants that add color to your poolside, add texture to the pool area, and create a sense of privacy for guests. These landscaping ideas for pool areas may give your pool the tropical and lush atmosphere you want.
Tree Planting
What are the best trees to plant around a pool?
For tree planting around the pool, New Jersey appears to be way outside the planting zone for palm trees. However, there is a variation of a palm tree, the windmill palm, that can grow more than 15 feet high. Breeders in New Jersey have been cultivating the windmill palm, originally from China, to tolerate New Jersey’s cold winters.
In addition, while many people like having a live oak around a pool, they are not hardy in New Jersey. You may want to choose the red oak instead.
Shrubs
Shrubs around the pool add interest and privacy, depending on the shrub’s height.
Justicia plants are a variety of shrubs with blooming tubular flowers, and many of the types, such as Justicia americana, are hardy in New Jersey and will thrive around a pool.
Justicia plants add a bit of tropical color to the poolside. Many of the plants have red, yellow, pink or orange blossoms.
Another shrub that can be used as a landscaping idea is the Golden Euonymus shrub, which is hardy to Temperate Zone 6. Golden Euonymus is known for its beautiful gold flowers and gold or green foliage.
Finally, if you want to add a different color to the pool area, Dalea purpura’s purple flowers add color and texture.
Plants
What are some plants around the pool ideas?
You can add many types of perennials to the landscape around your swimming pool.
Different sizes of perennials can make your landscaping interesting. For flowering perennials, blackfoot daisies, midnight blue agapanthus, and calla lilies offer a variety of colors and shapes.
In addition, ornamental grasses can add texture to your pool’s landscaping. Muhly grasses also come in various colors; most species are hardy throughout New Jersey. Deer grass is also robust in all temperate zones of New Jersey.
Groundcover
Groundcovers can also be an excellent idea when landscaping around your swimming pool. The groundcovers listed below are all hardy to New Jersey. All require full sun, which is perfect for a pool.
- Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) has round light-green leaves with yellow-green flowers.
- Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) has dark green leaves with brightly colored orange flowers. Butterflies love these plants, which would make a nice addition to the scenery in the pool area.
- Blue wood sedge (Carex flaccosperma) is known more as a blue-green grass-like plant, although some varieties flower.
- Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) has lime-green foliage with blue flowers.
Other Tips for Pool Landscaping
The plants offered here are suggestions. You may decide you want something different; many plants would make excellent additions to your poolside. However, there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing plants to landscape your swimming pool area:
• If you don’t want to attract butterflies or bees, don’t buy plants that attract pollinators.
• If children will frequent the pool area, be sure the plants you’ve selected aren’t poisonous.
• Be sure the plants you’ve selected closest to the pool don’t drop leaves or flowers directly into the pool.
With a careful selection of landscaping plants, trees, and shrubs, your pool will be ready for years of beauty, fun, and privacy. Find the type of landscaping you need or get ideas here.
To start your landscaping project today, contact Fernandez & Sons. We are your premier landscape and masonry contractor in Northern New Jersey. We design, install and maintain landscapes and complete beautiful poolscapes with outstanding decking, pavers, fire features, outdoor kitchens and more.
