Budget landscaping ideas around pool

[rnorwo1]

We recently had a landscaper come to our house to give us a bid on landscaping a couple of small areas around the pool, and the bid was several thousand. So I'd like to try to do this ourselves; I've been researching to find out what plants are appropriate for around pools (will not be messy or have damaging roots, etc) and I have a very short list. I'm not sure how to arrange plants either. Primarily I want to do something in the corners of the fence. The pool is on the east side of the house and gets a lot of sun, and we live in southern Louisiana.

I can't justify the cost of palms, particularly since There's a good chance I'll kill a certain percentage of everything I plant. Plants I've found that are supposedly good around pools are hollys, lillies, variegated pittsoporum, split leaf rhododendron, lantana, banana trees...

Can anyone tell me which plants they've planted around their pools? If you can suggest combinations/groupings that would be wonderful.

 

[pixiewings71]

The split leaf Rhodeodendron and the Lantana will be great, they will both spread and the Lantana will give you flowers for color. They are also very hardy in my experience. Once they are established you should be fine with these around your pool area. I'm not a landscaper so take my advice as you will, have fun with it!

 

[msmama]

My suggestion is to plant lightly. Don't think about what it looks like now, think about what it will look like in 5 or 10 years. This is coming from someone who is going to have to do a major thin out around my entire yard (including pool area) in the next few years.

(Why someone thought it was a good idea to put 3 rows of hedges AND several rhododendrons in front of a window is beyond me!!)

That said, I have some day lilies (which seem to be hardy and don't mind getting splashed by kids) and lots of other things that I don't know what they are but seem to be plentiful at most garden stores (so they were probably cheap).

 

[rnorwo1]

Thanks! Now I guess I need something taller behind the rhododendron. Maybe the holly trees?

 

[trish.]

I love the lilies and ferns growing near my pool. The look great and are super easy for me to maintain (read I do nothing).

 

[DisTrooper]

I would be aware of and avoid flowers and plants that attract a lot of bees. My mom planted some "lamb's ear", and the bees can be bad when it is flowering.

 

[moobear67]

I agree with the daylillies. We love the look of them around our pool. They will spread, however, and may need to be thinned out.

 

[rnorwo1]

Love the thought of doing nothing so I'll add the lillies, lol! I've always wanted to be a Gardner but I am just not good at keeping up with things. I'll check on ferns too, I don't know how much sun they can take. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[polkadotminnie]

We have tropic canna lilies and they look great by the pool.