Having a pool in the backyard may not be every Floridian’s dream, but it’s one that many of us share. The subtropical climate gives us a much longer swimming season to enjoy than most of the country. Having pools of our own allows us to enjoy the season to the fullest! Lots of homeowners take things a step further and create their idea of the perfect backyard getaway.
Landscaping around your pool is one way to transform the area into your own personal retreat. If you’ve put up an enclosure, adding plants inside will go a long way toward enhancing the beauty of your surroundings. However, you want to make the right choices when deciding which plants to incorporate. Making the wrong choices can lead to problems, such as constantly finding leaves or petals in the pool clogging up your filters and contributing to algae growth and ring-around-the-pool.
Moreover, some plants left growing too close to your enclosure, whether inside or out, can cause damage to the screens and frames. Planting in containers is a good idea because you can move them around if necessary as your plants grow.
With a little planning, you’ll hit on the right combination of plant life and the tropical atmosphere is sure to enhance your sense of peaceful serenity—one of the main reasons that people design a backyard getaway in the first place.
Which plants grow best inside an enclosure?
Low maintenance plants are those that are the least likely to drop debris into the pool. It makes good sense that the less time you spend skimming and cleaning leaves you more time for swimming or relaxing poolside.
Some good options to consider are:
- Palms—The Bangalow palm and Foxtail Palm are both ideal for adding some tropical ambiance because they are fairly easy to care for and don’t shed much debris.
- Ornamental grasses—Muhly Grass is native to Florida. It has narrow, dark green leaves and yields a beautiful display of pink or purple flower stems during the fall. It needs lots of water to get started, but over time becomes drought tolerant.
- Tropical plants—Bird of Paradise and Hibiscus are considered low maintenance and offer vibrant splashes of color that lend to the oasis feel.
- Succulents—Yucca and Aloe Vera are uniquely shaped plants that are low maintenance. They don’t require much watering which fits in well with busy lifestyles.
- Evergreen shrubs—Such as the Star Jasmine, for example. It’s a perfect choice for growing inside your enclosure. It’s decorative and emits a beautiful fragrance adding to the resort-like feel.
Designing tips
Colors and textures are big in the world of design with good reason. Eye-catching surroundings lend to the overall ambiance so mixing different shades of green with vibrant pops of color is the name of the game. Think about how tall your plants will grow and choose species of varying heights to add depth and dimension to your design. A simple layout idea would be to arrange your plants with taller palms or shrubs in the back and then the shorter plants or flowers in front. It creates a full, lush appearance, in perfect tune with your luxurious backyard getaway.
If you aren’t planning to put down a new floor, adding a walkway outside your enclosure will still compliment your interior design. You could border the walkway around your enclosure or have it lead off toward a garden statue or the tiny grove of orange trees across the backyard. Water features are another great way add to the overall aesthetic. The sound of moving water tends to lull most people into a more relaxed state which is perfect for a backyard getaway spot.
Low maintenance, not no maintenance
Even though you won’t have much, regularly maintaining your landscaping inside and out is the key to keeping your backyard getaway looking luxuriously beautiful.
Keep branches trimmed back so walkways don’t become obstructed. Sweeping up the fallen leaves is easy enough to handle. Periodically ensure that none of your plants are harming the structural integrity of your enclosure. Lastly, check to make sure your screens remain firmly in place along the frames and repair any small holes or tears that appear in your screens immediately.
Taking a little time to spruce up your space is going to make a big difference in enhancing the quality time your family and friends spend poolside this year… and every one hereafter.
No enclosure?
You may want to consider installing one! Pool enclosures offer your family several benefits that you can enjoy all year long.
They include:
- An increased level of privacy
- Create a bug-free zone
- A degree of UV protection
- Protect your outdoor living space from yard and storm debris
- Provide a barrier that holds wildlife at bay
If you have pets or small children, enclosing the pool provides you with an added level of safety too which is good for peace of mind.
We suggest that you consider working with a company that provides you with customized screens. Using digital imagery, your image choice is printed directly onto your screens. Dyes infused with added UV protection ensure images remain vibrant for years to come. You wouldn’t necessarily need to landscape if you were surrounded with the lush vegetation of a tropical rainforest or it appeared as if the ocean was only a short distance away!
It’s a thought worth entertaining, wouldn’t you say? All you’ll have to do to finish out your getaway spot is to add in your furniture and decor. And, maybe plan a party… or two!