Pool landscaping ideas

Pool Landscaping Ideas: 13 Styles Around One Pool

Most pool landscaping galleries show 13 different pools in 13 different gardens, so it is hard to tell what the planting and paving add. Here one plain pool, with a concrete deck, a lawn and a wood fence, is landscaped 13 ways: tropical, desert, modern minimal, natural boulders, Mediterranean, resort with a cabana, a fire pit lounge, an outdoor kitchen, ornamental grasses, a safety fence, night lighting, a bamboo privacy screen and coastal. Below: paving, plants to use and avoid near water, privacy, safety and lighting.

Try a pool landscape on your yard photo

Every picture on this page is one run of our own image model on an AI-drawn stand-in photo, not a real house, and not picked from several tries. Under each picture is the instruction we sent and what changed, including anything that changed that we did not ask for. Colors are approximate: check a real sample before you buy.

13 ways to landscape the same pool

The before photo is a plain rectangular pool with a concrete surround, lawn and a wood fence. Each picture asks to landscape only the area around the pool and keep the pool the same.

Before: a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence (AI-drawn stand-in photo) — Before
AI-drawn stand-in: a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence.

Tropical pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Tropical
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: tropical planting with palms and banana plants, and a travertine pool deck." Palms, banana plants and bright tropical planting were added around the pool and the deck became travertine. The lawn is gone.

Desert (xeriscape) pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Desert (xeriscape)
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: desert xeriscape with agave, ocotillo, gravel and sandstone pavers." The lawn was replaced with gravel, agave, ocotillo and sandstone pavers. The planting comes close to the pool edge.

Modern minimal pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Modern minimal
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: modern minimal: large pale limestone pavers and clipped boxwood hedges." The concrete and lawn became large pale pavers edged with clipped hedges. The pool kept its shape.

Natural boulders and grasses pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Natural boulders and grasses
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: a natural look with large boulders at one edge and ornamental grasses." Boulders and grasses were added at the far end. The far edge of the pool became irregular and rock-lined, so the pool itself changed shape there.

Mediterranean pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Mediterranean
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: Mediterranean: olive trees, lavender and terracotta pots." Olive trees, lavender and terracotta pots were added. The pool kept its shape and the concrete deck.

Resort with cabana pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Resort with cabana
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: resort style: a white cabana, loungers and a tall clipped hedge along the fence." A white cabana, two loungers and a tall clipped hedge along the back fence were added. Deck and pool unchanged.

Fire pit lounge pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Fire pit lounge
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: a sunken fire pit lounge with outdoor sofas next to the pool and string lights overhead." A sunken lounge with a curved sofa and string lights was added at the far end of the pool. We could not see a fire pit clearly in the result.

Outdoor kitchen and pergola pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Outdoor kitchen and pergola
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: an outdoor kitchen under a wooden pergola at one end of the pool." A wooden pergola with an outdoor kitchen was added at the far end, with planting either side.

Grasses and Corten planters pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Grasses and Corten planters
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: ornamental grasses in rusty Corten steel planters along the pool deck." Rusty Corten planters with ornamental grasses were added along the sides and far end of the deck.

Safety fence and hydrangeas pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Safety fence and hydrangeas
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: a black aluminum pool safety fence around the pool with hydrangeas planted outside it." A black aluminum safety fence with a gate was put around the pool and hydrangeas were planted along the back. The fence is in front of the camera, so it partly hides the pool.

Night lighting pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Night lighting
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: at dusk, with the pool lights on, uplit trees and path lights." The scene was turned to dusk with blue pool lights, uplit trees and small deck lights. The pool and deck kept their shape.

Bamboo privacy screen pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Bamboo privacy screen
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: a tall bamboo privacy screen along the fence and gravel with stepping stones." Tall bamboo now hides the wood fence and the lawn became gravel with stepping stones.

Coastal pool landscaping on a plain rectangular pool with a concrete deck, lawn and a wood fence, AI edit — Coastal
Asked: "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: coastal: white pavers, beach grasses and blue-striped loungers." The concrete became white pavers with beach grasses and blue-striped loungers. The deck grew and replaced the lawn.

Paving around the pool

The deck is the largest surface in a pool garden. Travertine and light limestone stay cooler underfoot and suit tropical, Mediterranean and modern looks. Concrete pavers are cheaper and come in many colors. Wood or composite decking warms up a natural or coastal look. Whatever you choose should be slip-resistant when wet.

Plants for around a pool, and plants to avoid

The best poolside plants drop few leaves, flowers or berries into the water and can take sun, heat and the odd splash. Palms, agave, yucca, ornamental grasses, boxwood, lavender, olive trees and many succulents are common choices. Plants that shed a lot (many deciduous trees, fruiting trees, plants with lots of small flowers) mean more skimming. Keep spiky plants like agave away from walkways, and leave space between beds and the pool edge for walking.

Style	Typical plants	Paving
Tropical	Palms, banana plants, bird of paradise	Travertine
Desert / xeriscape	Agave, ocotillo, yucca, gravel	Sandstone pavers
Modern minimal	Clipped boxwood, a few grasses	Large-format limestone or porcelain
Mediterranean	Olive trees, lavender, rosemary, pots	Terracotta or travertine
Natural	Ornamental grasses, boulders, low shrubs	Natural stone
Coastal	Beach grasses, sea lavender	White or light pavers

Privacy, fencing and safety

Tall hedges, bamboo screens and slatted fences give privacy. Most places require a fence or barrier around a pool, with a self-closing, self-latching gate; the rules on height and gaps are set locally, so check them before you plan planting around the fence line.

Lighting and places to sit

Pool lights, uplit trees and low path lights make the garden usable after dark and make steps and edges safer. A fire pit lounge, a cabana or a pergola with an outdoor kitchen turns the pool area into the main outdoor room.

How these pictures were made

Each picture is one run of our own render tool on the same AI-drawn stand-in photo, with an instruction such as "Landscape ONLY the area around the swimming pool: tropical planting with palms and banana plants, and a travertine pool deck". Captions say what changed and anything else that changed, such as a pool that moved or changed shape. The pictures are ideas, not a design: check plants with a local nursery and any fence with your local rules.

Try a pool landscape on your yard photo

Frequently asked questions

What plants are best around a pool?

Low-litter plants that take sun and splashes: palms, agave, yucca, ornamental grasses, boxwood, lavender, olive trees and many succulents.

What plants should I avoid near a pool?

Trees and shrubs that drop lots of leaves, flowers or fruit into the water, and spiky plants beside walkways.

What is the best paving around a pool?

A slip-resistant surface that stays cool: travertine and light limestone are popular; concrete pavers are cheaper; composite decking suits natural looks.

How do I get privacy around a pool?

A tall hedge, a bamboo screen or a slatted fence along the boundary, and a cabana or pergola for shade.

Do I need a fence around my pool?

In most places, yes, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Height and gap rules are local; check them before you build.

Can I try these ideas on my own pool?

Yes. Upload a photo of your pool and yard and describe the style. After you sign in, a new account gets 1 free render with a watermark.

See your pool garden before you plant it

Upload a photo of your pool, try two or three styles, and take the one you like to a landscaper.

Try a pool landscape on your yard photo