Modern landscaping has come a long way in the last decade and eco-friendly is becoming the norm. Gone are the days of wanting vast areas of closely cropped grass, concrete and exotic plants.

As the world becomes more eco-conscious, this has started to show in the way we’re designing our homes and landscaping (we have an entire section dedicated to eco-friendly design!). Of course, this also extends to pool landscaping ideas as well. You can have a stunning pool area while looking after the environment and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

In fact, in a lot of cases, it ends up being cheaper to install and easier to maintain in the long run. Let’s take a look at some of the most common eco-friendly elements you can incorporate into your poolside landscaping.

Use plants that are native to your area

By selecting plants that naturally thrive in your local environment, you’re immediately reducing your footprint. Native plants require less water and typically no artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

Since you can find them growing in the wild with zero human intervention, they’re a simple choice. Use Google to get an idea of the types of plants that grow in your area (Google images is your friend!) and talk to your local nursery.

You’ll still end up with some beautiful landscaping while also reducing cost and required maintenance. What’s not to love?

Consider the conditions those native plants thrive in

Just because a plant species are native to your area doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily survive near your pool. For example, if you select a species that needs lots of sunlight and grows near river beds (lots of water), putting them in a shady corner and expecting them to be fine may not work out.

Have a discussion with your local supplier about not only the type of plants you want to use but also where they’ll be placed. Again, you can also do your own research to make sure you’re making ideal choices before spending the money.

Native plants are fantastic, just make sure you’re getting the full picture before you commit.

Stick to mulch for your garden beds

Another way to reduce water and chemicals is by using mulch instead of rocks or any other form of covering. It helps to keep weeds at bay while also reducing evaporation and breaking down to other nutrients for your plants.

Not only that, but if you take the time to shop around local suppliers, you’ll be able to find a mulch that looks and smells fantastic.

Keep falling leaves away from your pool

If you plan on incorporating trees into your pool landscaping, try to avoid placing them too close to the pool itself — especially if they’re prone to dropping a lot of leaves as we come into fall.

Sure, nobody likes having to scoop them out of the pool all the time but the effects go much further than that. As those leaves break down in the water, they increase phosphate levels in the water.

These phosphates play an important role in algae growth and generally unsanitary water. That, of course, leads to more pool maintenance and a heavier reliance on chemicals to keep it safe to swim in. It also leads to a heavier strain on your filtration system forcing earlier replacement of filters, more regular backwashing, and so on.

In general, more leaves in your pool means a higher cost to your wallet and the environment.

Replace grass with other alternatives where it’s hard to grow

Large areas of grass require a lot of water and often a lot of fertilizer, too. If the conditions in your yard make growing grass difficult, consider replacing it with something entirely different.

Instead, you can plant ground cover or use synthetic grass, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Moss, clover, and creeping perennials are great options to keep that natural feel (and they smell great). If you want usable space for the family, synthetic grass might be a better fit.

This might sound like the opposite of ‘eco friendly’ but in the long run, it’s still an improvement. It requires zero maintenance — no water, fertilizers, or pesticides — and it will look and feel the same no matter the size, shape, or sunlight any part of your yard receives.

Don’t mow your grass too short

If you have lots of natural sunlight and get plenty of annual rainfall, grass can still be an eco-friendly option as well. To keep water use down, stick to native species and avoid cutting it too short.

You might be tempted to keep it cut very short for that crisp appearance like the fairway at your favorite golf course. The drawback is that short grass means greater temperature fluctuation in the soil and a lot more evaporation.

In simple terms, the shorter you cut your grass, the more time, effort, and resources will need to go into keeping it healthy. The higher you set your mower blades, the easier your lawn will be on the environment.

Incorporate smart irrigation into your pool landscaping

Last but not least, take advantage of modern technology to reduce your impact even further. If you have plants and/or grass that need to be watered occasionally, design your landscaping with smart irrigation in mind.

You can run the irrigation in a way that’s virtually invisible and let the scheduling system do the watering at optimal times. If you stand there watering things by hand during the day, you’re wasting a lot of water.

Not only is a regular hose an inefficient method, but you’re also going to lose a good portion of that water to evaporation. By letting an automated system do the work for you overnight, you’ll cut that water bill down significantly.

Whether you’re planning a new pool installation or refreshing your current landscape, keep these tips in mind. They’re so simple, cost-effective and the environment will thank you. With these concepts at the ready, it’s time to let your imagination run wild to design the perfect space for you and your family to enjoy!

Author: Chris Ashton