Choosing Plants that are Cool at the Pool

As the spring season gets hotter and summer starts encroaching, pools are crossing everyone’s mind. While living in the southwestern desert climate offers a wider variety of plant choices than many areas, those faced with the job of landscaping near a swimming pool still have the basic commercial property considerations pool managers in any region must confront. 

Before sending workers on an impulsive trip to a nursery or home center for whatever strikes their fancy, have them do some research.

If they choose fruit or flower-bearing trees and shrubs they may be beauties, but they will make a big mess when their leaves, needles, fruits, flowers, nuts or catkins fall in and around your pool or spa areas.  Fruit and flowers trees, shrubs and bushes can lead to a lot of extra work for your pool cleaner.

Desert plants, cacti and beautiful roses bushes have needles and thorns, as do colorful bougainvillea, barberry, pyracantha and luscious blackberry bushes. Can you imagine a resident, their child or a visitor accidentally falling into a rose bush or type of cacti?

Over the years, trees and plants with invasive roots can damage the pool’s structure, its surrounding area, and its plumbing system. This list includes ficus, elm and oak trees.

While the whole bee / hummingbird / ecosystem thing can be an amazing when it is happening in the garden and common area, you don’t want any pollinators mistaking your pool guests for an enticing honeysuckle or bottlebrush. Other bee-lovin' plants include Wisteria, Sweet Clovers, Delphinium, Larkspur, Queen Anne's Lace, Cosmos and many Salvias.  Keep these far away from your pools or hot-tube/spa areas.

Nearby nurseries or botanical gardens usually feature plants that are indigenous to your area or will adapt well to our climate. You may be tempted by the idyllic images and order an exotic banana tree off some website, but you might be wasting your dollars if it’s not suitable for your neck of the woods. If in doubt, consult regional charts or your local nursery.

Low-maintenance plants mean less work for your staff. The landscaping near your pool should enhance its surroundings and often sets a mood, like an island or oasis. You don’t want to be spending the bulk of your maintenance budget trimming and fertilizing the poolscaping, especially if it’s hard to access. Keep it simple. With the right plant selections, you can relax when thinking about the swimming pools and enjoy the scenery.

At Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance we have an even better idea, let us to the work and stressing about your commercial landscape needs.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you want lush lawns, desert landscaping or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net