How to Landscape Around a Pool in Florida

The warm temperatures of Florida require special landscaping solutions.

By following some simple guidelines, you can landscape the area surrounding your Florida pool to make it comfortable for everyone to enjoy. A major factor in creating a pool-surround landscape in Florida is keeping cool. Considering the average temperature and vegetation of Florida, you can create a sustainable, functional and pleasing landscape.

Things You'll Need

• Plants to provide shade, privacy and visual appeal

Instructions

1. Find your plant hardiness zone at http://floridagardener.com/misc/zones.htm. You will use this information when choosing plants that are appropriate for your region. Landscaping plants that flourish in the southernmost regions of Florida like Key West not survive the cold winters in the northernmost regions. While Duval and Holmes counties share the same latitude, they are in very different plant hardiness zones.

2. Make a sketch of the area surrounding the pool that you wish to landscape. Include measurements of specific areas that will be used for lounging and dining. Make a note of areas that are primarily sunny or shaded, moist or dry. Each yard has its own microclimate, affected by buildings, fences and natural windbreaks, paved areas and existing vegetation.

3. Sketch ideas you have for placement of berms, raised beds, ground cover, shrubbery, specimen plants, and trees. Some people like the look of a wide expanse of neatly groomed lawn. Others prefer a maze of trails through a jungle-like back yard, where every turn unveils a new vista.

4. Decide how much time, labor and money you are willing to spend installing and maintaining your landscape. This is a major consideration when deciding which landscape plants you will use. Most soil in Florida is nutrient-poor sand. For this reason, indigenous plants are the best choice for a landscape with the least cost and maintenance.

5. Decide on ground cover. To maintain a healthy lawn in most of Florida, an irrigation system and the frequent addition of soil amendments is needed. Varieties of turf grass that grow well in most parts of Florida include, but are not limited to: Pensacola bahia grass, Argentine bahia grass, Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and Zoysia. Some varieties of low-maintenance ground cover include: cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum), creeping fig (Ficus pumila), trailing fig (Ficus sagittata), Daylily, (Hemerocallis spp.) and creeping lily turf (Liriope spicata).

6. 

   Tropical hibiscus can be used as a lush hedge or specimen plant.

   Plant shrubbery and ornamental grasses to provide privacy, a wind break and visual interest. Many flowering shrubs that grow well in Florida have large, showy tropical flowers. They may be planted as a hedge, or used as specimen plants. These plants are successfully grown in most parts of Florida: bamboo (Bambusa spp.), Florida privet (Forestiera segregata), hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.), philodendron (Philodendron cvs.), and giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai).

7. 

   The lemon tree is prized for its evergreen foliage and valuable fruit.

   Plant trees to provide shade, privacy and natural beauty to your yard. Factors to consider when selecting trees include: growth habit and requirements, ability to provide shade, and whether or not the tree sheds its leaves. One good choice for most areas in Florida is the loquat tree or Japanese plum (Eriobotrya japonica), prized for its lush evergreen tropical foliage and delicious fruit. Other trees with advantageous attributes include: Poinciana (Caesalpinia spp. and cvs.), citrus
   (Citrus spp.), Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta and cvs.), saucer magnolia (Magnolia --- soulangiana and cvs.) and Frangipani (Plumeria rubra).

   As an added bonus, plants and trees cool the surrounding area during normal respiration.

Tips & Warnings

• Provide shade to lounging and dining areas. Some lounging furniture may be placed it a sunny area if you are trying to get a tan, but generally, you and your guests will be more comfortable if given a shady spot to escape the intense Florida sunshine.

References

• Seedland: Turf Climate Zones
• EDIS: Enviroscaping to Conserve Energy: Ground Covers for Central Florida
• EDIS: Florida Climate Data
• Florida Gardener: Plant Hardiness Zones
• Cornell University Gardening Resources: Microclimates

Resources

• Florida-Friendly Landscaping: Florida-Friendly Plant Database
• Southern Gardening: Building Soil Quality