Backyard Above Ground Pool Landscaping IDEAS
Building a deck around your aboveground pool can help it blend with the rest of the yard.
If you’ve always dreamed of having a backyard pool but aren’t ready for the expense or commitment of an inground style, an aboveground pool is an ideal alternative. Integrating an aboveground pool into your backyard’s layout is no small task, though. Choosing the right landscaping features and design is key if you want the pool to blend with the rest of the yard.
Add a Deck
A freestanding above ground pool can stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of your backyard if you don’t find a way to integrate it into the landscape. Adding a deck around the pool is an ideal way to make the pool feel like part of the yard – and expand your outdoor entertaining space. If you already have a deck attached to your home, you may want to build the pool deck as an addition to the existing structure to really make the pool blend with the rest of the yard. Depending on the size and layout of your yard, a multilevel deck may work well around your pool and give you separate spaces for a lounging area, a dining area and even your hot tub. You can build an elevated deck that’s flush with the pool surface for easy access to the water or place the deck so it’s just above grade around the bottom of the pool and add stairs to reach the water.
Accent With Rocks
Whether you build a deck around your aboveground pool or not, rocks are an ideal material for landscaping around the feature. If your pool has no deck, you can create a bed around it with gravel or river rocks to help it blend with the landscape. Larger boulders can serve as accents around the pool stairs or help hide the bottom edge of the pool walls for a more attractive look. Gravel and river rocks also work well around a pool deck – you can use them as mulch for any plants that you might add or use them in place of plants in a rock garden that adds color and rustic texture to your backyard.
Choose the Right Plants
If you plan to add plants around your aboveground pool, choosing the right types is key. Because an aboveground pool uses a liner that roots and grass can easily poke through, it’s best to avoid plants that have deep or aggressive roots, like bamboo. You may also want to skip plants like deciduous trees that are prone to shedding, because they can deposit leaves in the pool and increase your maintenance time. Evergreen shrubs are an ideal alternative because they don’t shed as much and keep their color all year. Japanese laurel (Aucuba japonica), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 10, is an attractive option because it produces reddish-purple flowers in the spring. It can grow fairly tall, though, so you’ll have to prune it to keep it a manageable size. Fragrant herbs like rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 10, are also an attractive option around the base of an aboveground pool and won’t jeopardize the liner.
Add Potted Plants
If you add a deck to your aboveground pool, you’ll also want to add some color and texture to the surround. Potted plants make ideal decorations for your pool deck since they’re easy to move and you can bring them inside at the end of the season if necessary. Look for bright, colorful options that will liven up your pool deck. With their white flowers that feature red, yellow and pink markings, Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria “Casablanca”), hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 11, are a striking option for your aboveground pool deck. You can also try snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, which produce lovely yellow, pink, red and white flowers and grow well in containers.
