Recommended Trees for Landscaping Around Pools

If you’re in the process of pursuing any type of pool-adjacent landscaping in Los Angeles, CA, it’s important to spend some time considering the kinds of trees you might plant. Some of the most important factors to consider include:

  • Roots: Trees with shallow root systems might get into your plumbing and cause the concrete to crack.
  • Messiness: You’ll want a tree that isn’t very messy, which means minimal leaf drop and no dropping of berries, flowers or seeds. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself frequently having to clean all of this debris out of your pool and the pool filter.
  • Theme: Do you have any sort of theme going on with your pool or the rest of your property? You might incorporate your chosen trees into that theme.
  • View: How large do you expect the tree to grow? Are you at all worried about it blocking your view?

Specific trees to choose

Here are just a few examples of some of the trees that can be ideal for landscaping around your swimming pool:

  • Palm trees: For people who live in tropical or sub-tropical environments, there are few trees more befitting a poolside environment than the palm tree. Their roots grow straight down and don’t spread particularly far, and they don’t require a whole lot of maintenance. You can turn them into natural privacy fences or screens by planting them in groups.
  • Japanese maple: Japanese maple trees are native to Japan and Korea, and are small trees or large shrubs. They typically will not reach more than 20 feet tall. They do well in sheltered locations, because they do not hold up very well to wind. They do well in full sun or partial shade, and grow very slowly.
  • Citrus trees: Citrus trees give you a little bit of that tropical feeling while also adding some pops of color with the fruits they produce. You might consider a citrus tree in a container that you can move around based on sunlight needs, especially if it’s a dwarf citrus. Your options include orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit and kumquat.
  • Banana trees: Another tropical option, banana trees hail from southeast Asia and are perennials with thick, soft stems. It features large, broad leaves that can provide plenty of shade.
  • Desert ironwood: The desert ironwood is a small tree that loves shade, has little in the way of foliage and grows up to about 25 feet tall. It has small, brown, pointed buds. This type of tree is best used in arid conditions and with desert-themed pools, and should be planted away from other plants that might require more water.
  • Fruitless olive: Fruitless olive trees are Mediterranean in origin and, as the name suggests, do not bear any fruit. When fully established, the trees have a high drought tolerance.

Interested in learning more about some of the trees you might consider planting around your pool? Contact Avanti Pools, Inc. today for more tips on pool landscaping in Los Angeles, CA—we will be happy to be of assistance!