The Best and worst plants for around the pool

We often want to beautiful tropical paradise around our swimming pool but are there some plans that are either hazardous or just is not designed to be around a swimming pool? Here are some of the best and worst plants and trees to have around your pool or hot tub.

Choose plants that bring color, create privacy, and add texture. Lush plants can really transform the pool area and there are a variety of full sun perennials, perfect for our climate, that will provide color and greenery after they've bloomed.

Bamboo is a great plant or tree to use around a swimming pool but you do have to be careful because it can get out of control rapidly. Palm trees, hedges, and bamboo can create a natural fence for privacy and give you some shade when needed.

Consider creating different layers of sizes and styles combining grasses with leafy and flowering varieties.

Place taller plants towards the back for middle of the bed and tier them down from offense or from the center of the garden. Use at least three of each plant unless it's a large focal point like a large tree.

Use plans that are native to your zone and those that won't litter your pool with needles or leaves. Here in Arizona we are a 9B gardening zone so the Queen Palm is a good tree to start with. Red Justicia , Weeping Dalea, and Golden Euonymus are good shrubs to use. Octopus Agava and bird of paradise also were good in our zone for succulents and different accents.

For perennials, the Blackfoot Daisy, Midnight Blue Agapanthus, and the Fortnight Lily make great flowering and leafy plants. Ornamental grasses can be found in places like Home Depot or Lowe's and groundcovers such as Yellow Dot and Azure Bush Germander.

Related Post: Why should you keep plants away from the house?

Some plants you don't want to use are those that have two characteristics, they drop leaves, and they thrive in shade. These might include azaleas, Bougaiinvillea, honeysuckle, Evergreen Elms, Mesquite, Arborvitae. Not only will these shed some of their foliage, but many pools are installed in direct sunlight, so these plants should be designed for sunlight. Sometimes the air around the pool can almost act like a microclimate, so your plants should be able to handle it.

For more information on the types of plants that are most common around your pool in Havasu City, give us a call and I would love to talk with you about the right plants, what we've seen around here, and what drives.

How to get your pool ready for the summer