A pool is a great backyard addition to any home. However, if your yard is small, the chances are your pool takes up a significant portion of it. Landscaping around a pool in a small yard may pose a challenge but it’s not impossible. Here are a few pool landscaping ideas for small backyards.

Pool Landscaping Ideas for Small Backyards - Create Your Own Oasis

One pool building mistake people tend to make, is not consider the landscaping around the pool. When it comes to landscaping your backyard, you need to exercise proper space management and planning. This will help maximize the utility and enjoyability of your pool and yard around it. Below are some landscaping ideas to consider for your backyard.

Double-Duty Seating

Because space is precious in a small yard with a pool, you can maximize the utility of the space by installing seats that double as storage. Outdoor storage benches placed along the outer perimeter of the space or along the fence keeps the open areas as large as possible – you want to keep the benches as far enough away as possible to allow easy access to the pool. The benches can be used to store toys and pool gear, small garden tools and grilling equipment.

Pavers

If you need to walk through a dirt area or grass to access the pool, the stepping stones or pavers can cut the mess drastically. This will help to keep your pool area a lot cleaner. Pavers and stepping stones come in a broad array of shapes and colors so you can always get something that blends with the rest of the décor in your yard, including the patio and existing rocks.

Plants

Plants next to your pool have a dual purpose for your landscaping. They can provide a beautiful backdrop for your backyard oasis or increase your privacy. However, plants that are directly next to the pool are bound to get splashes on or even soaked from time to time. As such, any plants close to the pool should love water, be tolerant to chlorine and relatively easy to maintain.

You want to ensure that the plants near the pool are far enough away that people won’t step on them as they enter or exit the pool. Flowers, for example, are breathtaking and enjoyable to watch but they will attract butterflies and bees. And it goes without saying that swimmers and bees may not get along.

Pebble Gardens

In some cases, your custom pool may take up almost all the space in one section of the yard. This can make it nearly impossible to walk around the pool, even when you need to mow the lawn. Rather than neglect those spaces and let them grow wild, creating a pebble garden that takes up most of that space can help to keep it neat and organized. In that strip, place nicely colored stones, smooth river rocks or ground quartz chunks that work well with the existing furniture and yard space. You can create visual interest by placing small garden ornaments within the pebbles or leave the areas as plain stones for a clean look.

Bottom Line

No matter what size your pool is, these pool landscaping ideas for small backyards can maximize the utility of your outdoor area and pool. Just because you have a small yard doesn’t mean it should be plain and lifeless.