20 Beautiful Pool Landscaping Ideas for Creating a Relaxing Oasis (2024)

Pool landscaping ideas don’t have to be expensive or difficult. A low-maintenance flower bed, a DIY accent wall, or some budget-friendly planters can transform a blah space into an inviting oasis. Dive in to see refreshing ideas for privacy, use of color, and creating intimate spaces.

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Overflowing Poolside Planters

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A well-designed planter with cascading foliage and flowers is a simple and budget-friendly way to add a touch of flare. Follow the professional design advice of using a thriller, a filler, and a spiller. For a polished look, choose a container material that compliments your pool deck. Consider sunny or shady locations and match plant needs accordingly to help them flourish.

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Tropical Poolscaping

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One of the easiest tropical pool landscaping ideas is to use a few palms, bird-of-paradise, caladiums, and other large-leaf plants in containers around your space. It’s a great way for people in more northern climates–where those plants can’t survive the winter–to get that island look around the pool. Remember to bring them in before the autumn frosts arrive.

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Splashes of Color

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A bit of color breaks up boring straight lines and brightens up your outdoor space. For example, the purple salvia and orange dahlias shown here make a dynamic pair with their season-long blooms. Have fun playing with the color palette. Choose a theme or contrast two colors for a bold statement.

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Planting for Privacy

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If you're looking for pool landscaping ideas for privacy, a strategically placed hedge could be the answer. Broadleaf evergreens like boxwood are a traditional choice for creating a dense wall of greenery around an area. But lilacs, azaleas, rhododendrons, and holly make great privacy hedges as well. Start with the area you’d most like to screen or block from view, like the street or a neighboring house. If your pool season is year-round, be sure to choose hedge plants that are evergreen in your climate.

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Show Off the View

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If you're lucky enough to have a view from your pool, maximize it. Use landscaping like hedges, fencing, and trees to frame the view so it commands attention. Adjust shorter and taller plantings to draw the eye. Choose low maintenance plants and let the view do all the work, while you enjoy a relaxing swim.

Rock Out

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Pool landscaping ideas with rocks can create a more natural feel around the water. For example, adding large rocks and boulders to a poolside garden bed brings the feel of the surrounding mountains into this backyard. Match the size of rocks to the scale of the beds and other landscaping; small rocks in a large bed with tall plants will get lost.

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Embrace Curves

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Break up a formal look by using natural edge pavers like the ones bordering this backyard pool. The curving lines and random shapes soften the hard edges of the pool, and blend well with the less regimented gardens to either side. Choose light colors to avoid hot stones under bare feet.

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Make a Focal Point

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Large planters can become a simple focal point near pool entrances or seating areas. Fill tall containers with lush plantings near seating to create inviting spaces like this patio set, which would feel much more exposed without the planter. Adding shade from an umbrella over the chairs reinforces the message to sit and relax by the pool.

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Easy Breezy Grasses

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Free-flowing ornamental grasses are an excellent choice for lush yet low-maintenance pool landscaping. Here, they blend with an irregular pool edge to create a natural look. Plant them at the edge and allow them to arch over the water to enhance the effect. For more impact, choose taller grasses that will arch and sway gently with a breeze.

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Take Cover

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An arbor or pergola can create a shady spot for seating, allowing adults to relax while being close to the pool to keep an eye on play. Locate it near enough to the water that guests in the seating area are still able to interact with those taking a cooling dip in the pool.

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Beautifully Relaxed Approach

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Freeform pool shapes are perfect for accenting informal plantings. To keep the look low-key, place plants in patches or scatter them randomly–avoid rows. Vary the height and choose varieties that flower at different times of the season, providing continuous color and interest.

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Match Color Palettes

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Match the color palette of your pool with your landscaping for a cohesive look. Annuals are available in almost any color and are a great way to bring the hues of your patio, furniture, and pool out into the surroundings. Set up an irrigation system with a drip line to keep them watered, saving time and hassle. They’ll look great all summer and you can spend more time relaxing.

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Go with the Flow

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A simple pool landscaping idea is to include plants with cascading stems to evoke the look of waterfalls. For example, the flowing foliage of sweet potato vines in this container soften the hard lines of the pool's shape while adding vibrant lime-green color to the space. The upright canna with it resembles a fountain, and its darker leaves make a pleasing contrast with the vine.

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Strength in Numbers

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When considering pool landscaping ideas, keep in mind that items grouped together draw more attention than they would when spread out. Chairs placed in proximity create a place to gather for conversation. Planters in clusters provide as much welcoming lushness as a garden bed. Both elements are more impactful placed closely than they would scattered across the entire pool deck.

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Tuck in Trees

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Trees are an integral part of the landscape, but near a pool they can be a problem. Locate them far enough away that any leaves, cones, fruit, or seeds land safely out of the pool. Surrounding the trees with a natural mulched bed will keep the look clean and avoid constant sweeping or stains on the concrete.

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A Living Fence

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When you need pool landscaping ideas for privacy, it's hard to beat a tall fence. But a fence can look drab and uninviting. Plant tall evergreen trees in front of the privacy fence for a more natural, welcoming look. And a closely spaced evergreen hedge can be an excellent option if your local ordinances won’t allow a fence or wall.

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DIY Accent Wall

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Adding a wood accent wall is a DIY pool landscaping idea that completely changes the look of this concrete block retaining wall. The warm tones blend with the foliage to create a more natural and relaxing atmosphere. Remember to choose a finish that is rated for outdoor use. These horizontal boards flow with the long axis of the pool to create symmetry.

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Intentional Reflection

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Consider different times of day, as well as multiple uses for your pool landscaping. This private nook with a seat is the perfect spot to enjoy a peaceful outdoor breakfast. The colorful garden border is reflected on the surface when the pool is calm early in the day, enhancing the effect of being surrounded by flowers and greenery.

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Strategic Seating

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In a big backyard, minimal landscaping and ample seating areas are a low-maintenance way to fill the space around your pool. Arrange seating on opposite sides of the pool to take advantage of the sun (or shade) as the day progresses. Locate seating according to its most likely use–tables near the grill and loungers in the sun.

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No-Mow Solution

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Landscaping gravel is an excellent option to keep the pool area clean, and grass clippings out of the pool. Opt for pebbles over crushed rock, and choose a light, neutral color that hides messy materials like grass clippings and small sticks better. A light color is cooler on bare feet as well.