Swimming pools are a delightful way to enjoy the summer heat. The best trees for pool landscaping will provide shade when you need it and let in the sunshine on other days, all while complementing your existing landscape design.
But, trees around your pool can do more than just provide shade, they also help reduce wind and create a natural barrier that keeps insects out of your backyard oasis.
We’ve compiled our list of the best trees for pool landscaping so you don’t have to go through all the trouble yourself! Landscaping around your pool with these 32 excellent tree ideas will give you a beautiful backyard retreat that is also energy efficient!
Best trees for pool landscaping ideas
Can you plant a tree near a pool?
Yes, you can and should plant trees near your pool so that you can reduce wind and create a natural barrier that keeps insects out of your backyard oasis and also provide the perfect amount of shade to keep you cool.
Landscaping near a pool can create an oasis that is both beautiful and tranquil. Still, with all the different factors to consider, such as wind direction and sun exposure, it can be difficult trying to figure out what type of tree would work best for your unique backyard setting.
What is the best type of tree for pool landscaping?
There are many types of beautiful trees that can be planted near a swimming pool for looking at while lounging by the water. One type is called an evergreen magnolia, which produces large and beautiful white flowers in spring and summer that are fragrant and extremely showy. But, there are many other types of trees for your pool landscaping designs, such as:
Lemon Trees (Citrus trees)
Lemon trees are a great choice for pool landscaping because they produce an abundance of small, sweet lemons that can be used in jams, jellies, and iced tea while you relax near the pool on a hot summer day.
Palm Trees
There are many types of palm trees that work well for pool landscaping. The most common type of palm is Sabal palm trees, which are native to the Southern United States and can grow up to 20 feet high.
But if you want to go for a more tropical look, you can choose to plant around your swimming pool some Queen's palm trees or Mediterranean fan palm trees.
But there are also the Sago palm, Cane palm, and Windmill palm trees that can work for your pool landscape as well.
Banana Tree (Musa)
A banana tree is a great choice for pool landscaping because it can grow up to 50 feet tall and produce bananas as well, which are a delicious tropical snack that will be at your fingertips all year round when you need them.
Olive Trees
Olive trees are perfect for pool landscaping because they have a very slow growth rate, so you won't need to worry about overgrown trees blocking your view of the water.
Pine Trees
Pines can grow pretty tall and provide plenty of shade when they are planted by your pool. They do have some thorns, though, so it is best not to plant them right next to the edge of the water because any little kid could accidentally touch one and get hurt on their way into or out of the pool.
Pine trees provide a lot more shade than most other tree species, which makes them a great way to keep your pool relatively cool in the summer months. Pine trees produce edible nuts that are relished by squirrels and other wildlife, in addition to beautiful evergreen needles that contrast nicely with blue water.
Japanese Maples
Japanese Maple tree leaves turn a beautiful red in the fall, making them perfect for your pool landscaping because they are so colorful, and you will get to enjoy their stunning colors all year round.
Cypress Trees
The cypress trees are also a good choice when you are looking for trees to landscape around your pool because they grow quite slowly, so you will not have to worry about them blocking the view of the water.
Floss Silk
Floss silk can also be a good choice for pool landscaping because of its gorgeous purple flowers that will bloom every year, providing some color to your yard.
Acacia Trees
Acacia trees are a good choice because they grow fast, and their dark green leaves will provide shade for you in the summer. Acacia trees are known to grow to be pretty large, so you might want to plant them a little bit further away from the pool.
Iron Wood
Iron wood trees are known for having a dark green hue on their leaves, but they are also known for having thorns. You will want to plant this tree somewhere you won't have any kids playing around it because the iron wood trees can hurt them if they touch one of the branches by accident.
Iron wood trees are beautiful for landscaping around your pool because they provide plenty of shade during the summer months.
Palo verde
Palo Verde trees are fantastic for pool landscaping because they are hardy and grow in many different climates. They require very little maintenance, which makes them a great choice if you don't have time to worry about your trees all of the time.
They also provide plenty of shade with their large leaves and nice dense branches so that your entire backyard doesn't get too hot during the summer months.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a tree worth considering because it does well in warm climates and can also produce flowers. The downside to this type of tree is that they require more water than other species, so make sure you have space around your
Juniper Trees
Juniper trees vary in size and shape but can be a good choice for pool landscaping because they have beautiful green leaves. They also produce berries that are a favorite with songbirds and other wildlife in your yard, so you'll want to keep them near the swimming pool since these trees attract wildlife.
Cedar Trees
One of the best trees for pool landscaping is a cedar tree because they have beautiful green leaves that contrast nicely with blue water and provide plenty of shade during hot summer months. Cedar trees are best known for their fragrant foliage, and they also have a long lifespan.
Bougainvillea trees
Bougainvilleas are a type of flowering plant that is best used for pool landscaping near the water because they do not like to be planted far away from it. Bougainvillea plants can produce flowers in different colors, which means you could have more than one color blooming at once and
Magnolia trees
Magnolia trees are the perfect choice if you're looking for a tree that offers plenty of shade but doesn't suffer from heat problems. These trees also make great street barriers because they grow to be over 30 feet tall and wide, so there's no way anyone can see through them! Plus, they smell amazing when in bloom which is a great added perk!
Holly Trees
Holly trees are the best trees for pool landscaping if you're looking to add some color. Holly plants bloom in a variety of colors and can make your garden come alive!
Conclusion
If you have a pool in your backyard, it is important to think about the landscaping around it.
A great way to provide shade and beautify your garden at the same time are trees. Many people overlook considering what type of tree they want for their landscape, but if you take this into consideration, then there will be no regrets later on.
Make sure you know which species of tree would best suit your needs before planting one so that you can enjoy these benefits from day 1!
