Planting near pools

A friend from the South Island recently asked me about planting near pools, as her partner was in the process of building one on their property

It got me thinking. In this case, the pool is surrounded by large evergreen native trees. While we often think of deciduous trees as big leaf droppers, all trees drop leaves to varying degrees.

One example is Metrosideros excelsa (pōhutukawa). While you shouldn’t have these trees anywhere near buildings or structures due to their very damaging roots, they also drop leaves, flowers, fruit and twigs!

It’s important to consider their placement carefully, especially around pools; otherwise your clients may end up spending more time picking tree debris out of their pool than they do jumping in it!

While deciduous trees – such as the Fraxinus excelsior (European or common ash) at my friend’s pool site – do drop all their leaves at once, it is usually when the pool is empty.

However, all trees will drop leaves and branches; especially after strong winds. Ideally, we want trees or shrubs nearby that aren’t big shedders or smaller plants with leaves that don’t shed easily.

If you need a hedge screen further from the pool, Corokia x virgata and Griselinia littoralis are two examples of plants that don’t shed too much.

Otherwise, focal plants with succulent leaves – such as Xeronema callistemon or Aeonium Schwarzkopf are worth considering in large pots. These two plants are also drought resistant and handle full sun well.

There isn’t often a lot of room around fenced pools for plants in pots, so it’s better to use the principle

‘less is more’. If using pots on tiled surfaces around the pool, make sure they are on spacers underneath to help with drainage and ensure the potting mix is stable.

I once used a garden mix that wasn’t properly made, and it leached tannins all over the tiles. That’s a situation you want to avoid!

Below are some examples of suitable pool plants:

In pots

Lobularia maritima, alyssum.

Aeonium Schwarzkop’.

Agave attenuata, agave.

Geranium species.

Lobelia species.

Xeronema callistemon.

Near the pool

Buxus sempervirens, box.

Corokia x virgata.

Dodonaea viscosa, akeake.

Pittosporum tenuifolium cv.

Griselinia littoralis, kapuka.

Prunus lusitanicus Standard.

---

Jon Muller has owned Wellington Gardens Ltd for 24 years. He practices landscape design and construction, with an emphasis on planting design.

He has taught at polytechnics and university, mostly in soft landscape subjects. He has written six gardening books, including Wellington Gardens, and enjoys helping clients find landscape solutions. He also helps students and workers studying for their landscape qualifications.