| What You Should Consider Prior to Landscaping Around a Swimming Pool |
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| Monday, 26 September 2011 | |
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During the dog days of summer, one of the best ways to beat the heat is to take a dip in the swimming pool, if you're lucky enough to own one. However, most pool owners aren't just using the pool as a place to cool off and relax, they are also using it as the centerpiece of their backyard landscape design. To most, a backyard with a swimming pool becomes a retreat where one can get away from the hustle and bustle of the day, and just relax. To others, it is an area used to entertain family and friends. Either way, your backyard isn't going to be complete until the area around the pool has been properly landscaped. Factors to Consider Prior to Formulating a Design Plan for Landscaping Around a Pool There are a number of factors to consider prior to designing a backyard landscape plan. These include, but are not limited to, climate, size of the yard, current landscape, privacy, beauty, convenience, and most important, your budget. Also, if you're landscaping around an existing pool, you are going to be somewhat more limited in the number of possibilities that are available to you. For new pool installations, the possibilities are practically endless and limited by only budget and any building code restrictions that must be adhered to. If you have the budget for it, it is best to hire a landscape designer. A local landscape designer should already be familiar with building code restrictions, material cost, and regional climate considerations. Popular Swimming Pool Landscaping Elements Swimming Pool Coping and Deck If you're designing your backyard landscape around an existing pool, this will probably not be a consideration because in ground pools are usually initially installed with these elements. For new installations, the selection of the coping and deck will probably be the most important decision that needs to be made. Swimming pool coping is the edging or trim that is installed around the perimeter of the pool. There are basically four types of coping to choose from. Rolled edge coping generally consists of brick, pavers or concrete and is smooth with a rolled up interior edge. Cantilevered coping is a modern style that extends the decking past the edge of the pool and down the side forming an L-shape which makes the decking look thicker than it actually is. Bull-nosed coping is made from cast-concrete, stone, or cast-stone and is flat on top with a rounded interior edge. Finally, rough cut coping consists of flat stones that give the pool a more natural and rough look. It is most commonly used in conjunction with rock waterfalls or other types of rock formations. The pool deck is the area surrounding the pool that is generally formed from concrete, wood, pavers, stone, or tile. Consider adding natural stone coping and decking or concrete pavers that complement the accents on your home. Make safety a top priority and think through practicalities. Select a decking material and color that will not be too hot to stand on in the sun or too slippery when wet. Also, take into consideration any future maintenance requirements of the decking material. For example, wood decking will require being retreated every 5 to 7 years. Water Features There is no better way to increase the tranquility of your backyard paradise than by adding a stylish water feature. Water features come in a very large variety with the most popular being fountains and waterfalls. Cascading rock waterfalls, waterfalls from adjoining spas, waterfalls from slides, and sheer waterfalls dropping from retaining walls provide a visually exciting display. Water sprays from vertical fountains and laminar jets are gaining in popularity as well. The fastest growing trend today in regards to pool accessories is the installation of fiber-optic lighting. Fiber-optic lighting is not only being installed in the walls of the pool, but is also being used to showcase the water features mentioned above. Most lighting kits include a remote control and color wheel that allows the pool owner to change the color of the lighting. Foliage and Planters No pool landscaping plan would be complete without the addition of plants, shrubs and trees. Planters range from simple flower plots, planters built in to the deck, retaining wall planters, planters incorporated into rock features, and the most common, a flower bed that surrounds all or portions of the deck. Visit your local nursery to find varieties of vegetation that grows well in your planting zone. Considerations include the amount of sunlight the plant will receive in respect to where you intend to plant it, its distance from the pool, and your backyard color scheme. Chlorine can be harmful to plants, so if the pool uses chlorine, you will want to keep the plants far enough away from the pool so that they aren't affected by splashing water. The root system of the plant is another important consideration if you intend on placing it close to the pool. Be careful not to plant trees with larger root systems too close to the pool. Finally, you will want to find out if the plant loses its flowers or leaves. If it does, you will either want to avoid using it, or plant it far enough away from the pool so that the flowers and leaves don't end up in the pool. Plants, shrubs and trees that lose their flowers or leaves not only necessitate increased cleanings, but can damage the pool pump or plug up the pools plumbing. If all these choices seem a bit overwhelming, you are not alone. The best advice is to view pictures of existing pool landscapes to find the style and preferences that you like. You can find them on websites that sell swimming pools, as well as in their trade magazines and brochures. The most important thing you should do is design a complete plan prior to starting your landscaping project. If you do that, you are sure to create a safe, low maintenance, trouble-free pool landscape that will transform the backyard into your own private paradise. About the Author: Keyword Tags: |
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