One of the most common requests I’ve heard from clients over the past 15 years of landscape design goes something like this ….."I want plants that are maintenance free. Please make me a planting plan with plants that require NO to LOW maintenance."
Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet here. And my answer to their request is honest….”every planting installation will require some basic level of maintenance.” Depending on the plant selection and relative planting environment this might include irrigation, annual pruning of last year's growth (for perennials), soil amendments, extensive pruning for optimum plant architecture (woody shrubs and trees), mulching, pest/disease control, cold weather protection for some evergreen species and fertilizing. One of the main keys to avoiding unnecessary or unwanted maintenance is selecting plant varieties that are well suited to the environmental conditions in which they are planted (sun, soil and drainage conditions).
However, some plant selections offer relatively lower maintenance requirements since they have one or more of the following characteristics:
-Naturally ‘clump forming’
-Smaller in (mature) size
-Disease/insect resistant
-Hardy of local climatic conditions (according to relative USDA Plant Hardiness Zone)
-Can tolerate a wide variety of soil and site drainage conditions
-Produce minimal amounts of litter
So, if you’re looking for the best plants around your pool. – it CAN be done! (…..without resembling a giant parking lot of concrete or xeriscape landscaping of Arizona).
As a general disclaimer, this article is based on cold climate plantings as observed in the great state of Wisconsin (USDA Hardiness Planting Zones of 3 – 5). For this reason, plant specifications for this particular post will not be focusing its attention on tropical specimens (although it will include a brief discussion of these plant types as potted annuals).
That being said, many of these considerations are broad and can be applied across different planting zones. Use your imagination and experience with different planting combinations to develop a planting layout that is tailored to your specific site.
“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.”
– Janet Kilburn Phillips
It takes years of such “experiments” to learn what may work best for you. I certainly do not consider myself to be a ‘Master Gardener’ but here are just a few of the lessons I have gleaned over my experience in planting design/installation for poolscapes….
Utilize Different Plant Types
Choose plants for around your pool from different plant categories (including annuals, perennials, decorative grasses, woody shrubs, ornamental trees, evergreens and shade trees). This will result in a richer composition within landscape beds. Focus on 'Plant Stratification' or 'Layering' with smaller plants towards the front edge of the planting area and taller specimens towards the back, so that all plants are visually accessible.
Neat and Tidy Perennial Plantings (What are ‘Clumpers’?)
Some plants for around your pool are just better than others for keeping a tighter form (even when they've reached maturity. Clumping forms that are non-invasive. Try to avoid plants around your pool that are spread by rhizomes. In certain conditions you may want to select a plant that spreads by rhizome so that it takes over a large area and provides maximum coverage over time. Usually, poolscapes are not one of these scenarios.....as fast spreading perennials could result in an unruly or overgrown aesthetic that is difficult for maintenance and messy around pool decks. Some possible 'Clumper Cultivars' might include Blue Fescue, Autumn Joy Sedum, Salvia, Speedwell, Coral Bells, Karl Foerster Grass, Yucca, Spiked Gayfeather, Purple Coneflower and Little Bluestem.
Annual Potting Options
Annuals are a great option for adding a splash of color to large hardscaped areas (such as pool decks or patios) in order to visually soften up the aesthetic of the surrounding landscape. Oftentimes annual plantings provide much more showy colors and vibrant blooms when compared to local perennial and shrub installations. The main drawback obviously is that this type of plantings have to be planted every year (as these tropical specimens cannot survive colder winter conditions). Large pots and/or hanging baskets can be utilized to create plant compositions that showcase several different cultivars to provide dynamic and striking features within the landscape.
Salt Tolerant Varieties
In most cases, the salt content in pools is too low to adversely affect the health of plantings. However, in 'high splash zones' around the pool this could become an issue after years of accumulation. Even with low salt contents of saltwater system pools, over time the salt levels can accumulate in soils and damage landscape plantings. Certain varieties (such as roses) may be especially susceptible to damage. So, in such areas- it may be a good idea to choose plant varieties that can tolerate higher salt contents. Below is a short list of 'Salt Tolerant Plant Varieties:"
-Autumn Joy Sedum
-Blanket Flower
-Catmint
-Dianthus
-Karl Foerster Grass
-Russian Sage
-Silver Mound Artemesia
-Viburnum
-Yarrow
-Yucca
Match Plant Preferences to Existing Solar Conditions
Most pools are placed in very sunny conditions (further away from shade producing structures and larger trees). So select plants that thrive in the sun! The good news here is that most plants that produce showy blooms tend to prefer full sun conditions. Also, most decorative grasses prefer full sun conditions.
SOURCES
Clumping for Neatness: Tidy Native Plants - Donna L. Long
SHAMELESS CALL TO ACTION
Do you need tips or help in creating a tailored landscape plan for your upcoming pool project? Contact Pool Pros today @ 920-771-0107. Our in house Landscape Architect and Pool Project designer are ready and waiting to help you create the Poolscape of your dreams. When Quality Counts, Count on Pool Pros
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