Plant with care and forethought around your swimming pool

Reduce the amount of maintenance you have to do on the pool area by choosing plants that don't drop flowers, berries, or leaves. Photo: Supplied

I get asked a lot about gardening around pools. How often do you see a pool, four fences and some empty garden beds where everything that's put there dies? Hedges,trees and shrubs can provide shade and privacy and of course they look great and can transform a concrete rectangle into a tropical oasis. But not all plants like the environment around pools. It is important to choose carefully.

The first thing you need to know is how your pool is maintained: is it saltwater or chlorine?

If you have a chlorinated pool, remember that chlorine is a chemical that is used to keep your water clean. It kills bugs and germs that would thrive without the chemical being in the water. Plants such as mondo grass, cordylines, golden cane palms and star jasmine can withstand splashing from chlorinated water to a point. If your pool doubles as a rock and roll wrestling ring where everyone bombs and splashes everywhere, you may need raised garden beds or large planters.

Saltwater pools can poison plants that don't like high salt levels, but there are lots of salt-tolerant plants that can survive these conditions easily. Australian native plants that have grown along our coast in poor soil under extreme conditions with strong winds and salt spray are perfect around your pool. Westringia (coastal rosemary), coastal banksia, dianella and pig face are all good native plants for salty conditions. Other plants that go well near saltwater pools usually have silver, furry or waxy leaves. Bromeliads work well when the centre that holds water is facing away from the pool; agaves which are smooth and silvery will shed the salt off their foliage without damage.

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One of my favourite trees is the frangipani. It reminds me of tropical resorts. The problem is it's deciduous, it drops leaves and flowers. If you want that look, be prepared for maintenance issues. Don't plant plants that can interfere with the pool's integrity like running bamboo or plants with robust root systems that can damage pipes and create problems in the future.

For both chlorine and salt, try to pick plants that aren't prone to pests and desease; it isn't great to be spraying chemicals around the pool surface where it will come in contact with eyes or skin. It's great to have gardens in your pool area but reduce the amount of maintenance you have to do on the garden and the pool by choosing plants that don't drop flowers, berries, or shed leaves.

If you're replanting around your pool take safety into account. Make sure you can see the water from outside the pool area.

I believe most gardens that have failed inside pool areas have done so more from heat and drought than from pool water. Garden beds in pool areas are usually near fences, the fences heat up and the reflection from the pool magnifies the sun onto the plants.fFeed and water a little more in the pool area to replenish the soil. But, most importantly, under no circumstances plant a row of cocos palms and repeat the sins of the 80s.

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Plant with care and forethought around your swimming pool