What can I plant around my swimming pool?
Question:I'm looking for plants that can stand up to an occasionaly splash of chlorine water and don't take a whole lot of maintenance. I'd like something along the lines of decorative grasses and non-flowering bushes that don't just look like weeds.
Answers:
Your pool water will not hurt anything. At least, that is my experience. I actually dip water from the pool to water plants.
I have tried a lot of plants and will not attempt to recommend since I have a brain-lock-out when it comes to names of plants. But I can tell you what not to plant - from experience.
Nothing that looses leaves during the season or where in the fall will fill the pool cover with leaves. I have done it all. No large trees of any kind near the pool. The roots can break up concrete or the bottom of above ground pools.
I have a lot of daylillies. They pretty much take care of themselves and after the blooms, there is a grassy clump that I find as nice as the bloom. Pompas grasses of various kinds also do well with no care.
I am a no fuss grounds keeper, so I always use weed guard every place I can. Heavy, heavy plastic and rock lasts for years. Be sure any shrubs you choose do not grow taller than you want or you will be cutting them a couple times a year. Nothing around the pool should be thorny or prickly. I get so agravated at having to pull little stickers from my feet.
I suggest you go to a good size nursery. Look, ask questions, write down the names of the plants you like. Maybe take your camera so you can remember what they look like. Take the information back home, mull it over and then decide what you want and where you will put it, then find the best buy.
One last thing. Don't plant english ivy or any vineing plant that will eventually spread out of control.
Some nurseries will send landscapers to make recommendations. I have done this as well and found that they wanted to put way too many plants in the small area I wanted help with. But I did get some good information.
don plant anyything it will make ur pool dirty and just pt some grass far away from the pool like 45inches like that
go with teh grasses but make shure they arnt right next to your pool atleast 5 ft (2.5m) away from teh pool but watch out for the seeds decorative grasses have troublesome seeds but other than that low maintenance.
Around our pool we went with plants that do well in shade and in sun. So make sure you pick based on the amount of sun your pool gets. The plants that are THRIVING around my pool are
Cone Flowers
Forget me knots
anything viney
ground covers
Remember to fertilize!
just normal hedge bushes they need the occasional trim but it takes a lot for them to die and chlorine wont effect them.
Elephant ears,& hostas
go with teh grasses but make shure they arnt right next to your pool atleast 5 ft (2.5m) away from teh pool but watch out for the seeds decorative grasses have troublesome seeds but other than that low maintenance.go with the grasses but make sure they arnt right next to your pool at least 5 ft (2.5m) away from the pool but watch out for the seeds decorative grasses have troublesome seeds but other than that low maintenance.
Contingent upon your geographical location, I find lilies to be the perfect flowers to be around a swimming pool. They come in all color varieties. Also, if you live in a warm climate, bougainvilleas can be an excellent choice.
Since I do not know your climate zone I would suggest you visit your local garden center and speak to a landscape designer. They will know what is best for your area of the country. They will gladly advise you and show you different types of plants too. Do not over buy plant material!
The biggest problems I see with planting in almost any area is that people do not plan for the mature size of the plants. What ever you chose make sure you take that into account. You want what you plant to look as good ten years from now as it does the day you plant it.
Plant anything you like. There is LESS chlorine in pool water that most city drinking water. When you super chlorine your pool the amount is 3 parts per million. Drinking water is 20 to 25 parts per million. I have flowering bushes by my pool. Pick plants that you like and don't worry about the chlorine.
i would plant some ornamental grasses. or anything that will grow clean(no leaves or flowers that may fall off and get into your pool)
daylillies...nothing kills them, they are not poisonous, and need next to no care...and they are pretty
Artificial plants and flowers.
Plant anything you like. It's your pool. and your design. Just remember, while the larger more colorful leaves might look nice, if they are right up against the pool they are more than likely going to end up in the pool at some point when the climate changes etc.
Try to go with plants and bushes and other things that do NOT REQUIRE fertilization. IF you get fertilizer in your pool you are asking for problems. Ferilizer, is mostly nitrogen, and nitrogen <nitrates> feed algae growth. If you have grass near the pool and you fertilize with green nitrogen pellets, you do not want to get them in your pool. Those little green pellets will literally turn a blue clear pool, into a green swamp in a week.
Go with plants that are low maintence and yet still good to look at.
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