Pool Landscaping Tips That Make Maintenance Easier
A gorgeous pool area can make your backyard feel like a private resort—unless, that is, it wrecks your wallet every time you take a dip. At Orion Landscape & Construction, we view pool landscaping as both beautiful and functional. However, by making the right design choices, selecting the right materials, and opting for the correct type of planting, you can reduce the maintenance required to keep your garden looking lovely — and maximize your chances of enjoying it with less stress and more relaxation.
Here are our top pool landscaping ideas to help make maintenance less of a headache, ensuring your oasis remains clean, efficient, and beautiful throughout the summer.
Choose Low-Maintenance Plants
Not all greenery is pool-friendly. Some plants shed too many leaves, attract pests, or require regular pruning to maintain their appearance. To reduce cleanup and care:
- Choose evergreens or cold-hardy shrubs such as boxwoods, junipers, or ornamental grasses.
- Steer clear of messy trees such as palms, pines, or deciduous varieties that shed a lot.
- Choose native plants that are appropriate for your climate — they are more drought-tolerant and need less maintenance.
Orion always factors in the placement and characteristics of the plants when planting to ensure your pool area stays free of mess.
Use Hardscaping to Your Advantage
Incorporating hardscaping features would also allow me to minimize some of the mowing, trimming, and sweeping by using pavers, gravel beds, or natural stone products with grass in between. These features can:
- Reduce debris and leaves from getting into the pool
- Provide slip-resistant, easy-to-clean surfaces
- Pathways or lounge areas provide some articulation of function to the space.
Good hardscaping doesn’t just look nice; it serves to define clean zones around the water, reducing debris.
Install Mulch Alternatives
Mulch is standard fare in garden beds, but it’s too messy for around pools. Wind or water might blow it into water, and it can clog up filters, making more work. Consider alternatives like:
- Decorative gravel or river rocks
- Rubber mulch (non-float variety)
- Porous concrete or ground covers such as creeping thyme
These alternatives are also visually attractive and remain in place on windy or rainy days.
Plan for Proper Drainage
When it rains and standing water collects around your pool, erosion, algae growth, and a hazard to anyone using it can be the result. A well-drained landscape helps keep the area dry and clean. Tips include:
- Grade the yard away from the pool
- With French drains or dry creek beds
- Installing permeable pavers, which let water percolate through
At Orion Landscape & Construction, we create drainage solutions that blend seamlessly into your landscaping while effectively directing water to its proper place.
Use Raised Beds and Retaining Walls
You also can pick up the style with elevated planters or low retaining walls around your pool:
- Contain soil and mulch
- Prevent runoff into the pool
- Design zones and add texture
These structures also provide seating or lighting possibilities, ensuring that your pool area is both functional and well-designed.
Incorporate Artificial Turf or Easy-Care Ground Cover
The grass feels terrific, but the upkeep of mowing and watering near a pool can produce mud and mess. Instead, try:
- Artificial turf, which always appears perfectly lush and never needs mowing
- Ground covers such as blue star creeper, or dwarf mondo grass requires little pruning.
Both options offer greenery without the ongoing maintenance challenges associated with regular lawns.
Install Automatic Irrigation Systems
If you have live plants in your landscaping, an automatic drip irrigation system could save you time and water. Unlike sprinklers, which can spray over the pool and the surrounding hardscaping, drip systems deliver water directly to the roots — effectively and efficiently.
Add Functional Lighting
Outdoor lighting isn’t just for ambiance — it makes evening maintenance and safety checks easier. Utilize LED low-voltage lighting along walkways, planters, and near locations where cleaning equipment is stored. Timers and motion sensors minimize energy waste while keeping your space well-lit in moments when you need it.
Final Thoughts
A gorgeous-looking pool area doesn’t have to translate into hours of work every week. With careful planning and proper material selection, landscaping can help keep your pool stunning and minimize the need for pool maintenance.
At Orion Landscape & Construction, we are experts in creating luxury swimming pool landscapes that are both beautiful and practical. Whether you’re revamping your existing space or starting from scratch, we’ll design with maintenance in mind so you can spend more time enjoying your outdoor retreat and less time maintaining it.
Pool Landscaping Made Easy: Are You Ready to Simplify Your Pool Landscaping?
Contact Orion Landscape & Construction to schedule a consultation, and we’ll create a low-maintenance pool area tailored to your lifestyle.