Summer is just around the corner and there’s no time like the present to refresh your swimming pool landscaping! Whether you’re looking for a huge wow factor or wanting a more simple, zen space, landscaping around a pool is a must to complete the look of your private oasis. From colorful flowers and new hardscaping to lighting choices and beautiful water features, we’re taking a look at backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer that will transform your space this year.
Amazing Backyard Pool Landscaping Ideas
You may have already looked at tips for how to landscape the front of your house, but now it’s time to turn your sights to the backyard. Using a landscape planner online can help you plan, budget, and bring to life your backyard pool landscaping ideas. No matter whether you’re wanting a zen space to enjoy or wanting backyard design plans for summer entertaining, landscaping around a pool creates a polished, professional look you’ll love.
Swimming pool landscaping is more than just picking a few plants and putting them in the ground. Working with one of our landscaping professionals in Albany, Saratoga, Colonie, Schenectady and the surrounding areas, we’ll be able to help you with backyard makeover ideas that will have you fall back in love with your space.
Some of our favorite backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer are:
- Creating privacy with backyard pool landscaping ideas
- Adding pops of color with flowers
- Keeping your backyard cool with trees
- Enhancing your pool with a water feature
- Building a new patio installation
- Using hardscaping for walkways
- Adding a fire pit for more entertaining options
- Using lighting for safety and to finish the look
Backyard Privacy Landscaping Ideas Around Pools
First up on our list of backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer is creating privacy. While you love enjoying your pool all summer long, you may not necessarily want your neighbors to be able to see everything. Using landscaping around a pool to add privacy to your backyard creates a more intimate spot you can enjoy with friends, family, or solo. Adding taller hedges or trees that grow to ample size makes it feel like you’ve been transported to your own private little island just by stepping out your back door!
Adding Pops of Color to Backyard Pool Landscaping Ideas
Landscaping around a pool isn’t limited to greenery. While we love lush, green plants that help make the create the perfect oasis, adding pops of color is one of our favorite backyard pool landscaping ideas because it ups the overall look. Whether you’re choosing gorgeous flowers to plant in spring or working with our landscaping services professionals to use flowers that provide colorful blooms even late into the summer, these vibrant additions can add a real wow factor to your space.
Keeping Your Pool Area Cool With Shade
Sure, summer lets us enjoy the outdoors, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to beat the Capital Region summer heat! Some of the best trees to plant in Upstate NY provide ample shade for your backyard. Species like the northern red oak and hybrid poplar both grow quickly and have larger, full canopies to supply shaded areas to your swimming pool landscaping.
Not only can larger trees provide shaded areas and opportunities to improve on ways landscape design can transform your backyard, but they’re dog-friendly landscaping ideas for your pups! If you’re feeling the heat, they definitely are, too. Created shaded areas lets everyone in the family, even our four-legged members, enjoy backyard pool landscaping ideas all season long.
Note: Not all trees thrive in all regions. See how these regions are broken down into what’s known as the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and consult our landscaping professionals to learn which trees will work best when landscaping around a pool.
Adding a Water Feature to Your Pool Area
Another of our favorite backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer is adding a water feature! Water features are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to fit your swimming pool landscaping (and budget). Landscaping professionals can help you determine which water feature design is right for your yard to compliment your poolside area and create an incredible look. Not only do water features add value to a home, but they can make you the envy of the neighborhood!
Bonus Tip: A custom water feature installation such as a waterfall or backyard fountain can also help keep your backyard cooler!
Poolside Patios and Walkways
Opportunities to implement backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer include more than plants, trees, and water features (though we love all those). A new patio installation and using hardscaping to create walkways also add to the overall look of swimming pool landscaping
Patio spaces are great for creating seating areas in your backyard and can really amp up the space. From patio water features to custom outdoor barbecues and more, having a professionally-built patio installation lets you enjoy your poolside landscaping to its fullest.
Pavers, stepping stones, and other hardscaping walkways offer the chance to add some visual interest and functionality to your backyard pool landscaping ideas, too. In addition to pure functionality, you could also use pathways to create smaller, more intimate seating spots when landscaping around a pool. Getting creative with hardscaping ideas can really make a difference in the overall look!
Poolside Fire Pits
Love having a pool but wish you could enjoy your outdoor space more after dark? Fire pits make amazing backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer because they give you more options for enjoying your space day and night. There are a variety of outdoor fire pit ideas and types to choose from. Working with a landscape professional (we know some!) you can design your swimming pool landscaping with a fire pit that adds a major wow factor to your backyard!
Note: When you decide to add a fire pit to your backyard, be sure to check local laws regarding fire features or consult with a landscape designer in the Capital region and appropriate county (Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, etc) who will be familiar with local regulations.
Lighting Your Swimming Pool Landscaping
Last, but certainly not least, on our list of backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer is the lighting. Adding lighting when landscaping around a pool sets the tone for your space and makes it into something special. Not only is it stylish, but it also helps improve poolside safety, which should be at the top of your list, as well.
With seemingly endless options to pick from, adding lighting to backyard pool landscaping ideas lets you enjoy your space during the days and evenings. Create the ultimate backyard entertaining space to enjoy with friends, family, or by yourself!
We hope this guide to backyard pool landscaping ideas for summer has been both informational and inspirational. From shady trees and colorful flowers to patio installations, water features, and lighting, landscaping around a pool provides nearly limitless design options. Need a little help to get going? Check out the NVS Project Planner to build some ideas and budget your next project. Save your plans or submit them to us and one of the NVS Landscapes professionals will be in touch to get started!
Want some more landscaping ideas and inspiration for this summer? Check out these guides:
