Some cultivars of bee balm grow and spread much faster than others. The vine, which is known as a vigorous grower, is toxic to humans. Also, keep in mind that plants will likely get splashed with chlorine and other pool and spa chemicals. Living like this is no barrier to enjoying a garden that comes into its own in the sea air, as there are many options which thrive in coastal conditions. When still young, the tender leaves are also edible, making them an ideal salad ingredient. Saltwater pools give you the illusion of swimming in the ocean with the natural salt you use to chlorinate the pool. Use these buckets to water plants in other parts of the landscape. Clean and green plants around the pool. All plants require a small amount of chlorine to grow, but too much chlorine in the water will cause the death of many plants. Salt damage may manifest as leaf burn, leaf drop, or . Carefully research any plants you choose to surround your pool before any buying or digging happens. Call a Plant Nerd! She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Vines that can tolerate saltwater splash include the star jasmine (Jasminum nitidum) and the cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis). The key to smart poolside landscaping is to find strong plants that can withstand your pool's microclimate, are easy to maintain, and still look good. There are climbing geraniums and other varieties that are more like shrubs, so you can choose the type that fits best in your pool area. Like the regular kale, sea kale is also perfectly edible, and is sometimes known as sea cabbage, as it comes from the Brassicaceae family. You might know the fruits of this flowering plant by the name sloe, an essential ingredient in sloe gin. While the water itself may not hurt your grass, the leftover salt just might. Its multicolored clusters of brightly colored small and dainty flowers can be used in hanging planters or as ground cover. Succulents come in all sizes and shapes and are the rising stars of drought-tolerant landscaping because they store water in their fleshy leaves, stems, and roots. Banana. If you desire a tropical look for your pool area and live in a mild, frost-free climate, banana trees instantly create the mood you may be looking for. It is especially hardy, given it can tolerate extremely low temperatures, though it prefers the sun and sea air. The attenuata agave has a circular orientation of flexible, soft leaves, and a lovely light green color that fits well in a cactus or succulent pool garden. Coastal Landscape Care. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. This evergreen thorny shrub takes its name from the naturalist who discovered it in South America for the first time in Western science in 1835, although prehistoric natives had eaten its berries for millennia. of salt. Salt Loving Plants. Since there are over 300 varieties, you can really play with color and texture with stonecrop, complimenting and contrasting with other plants, rocks, art, or even your pool patio furniture. If your pool is saltwater choose from more coastal species. Salt in small quantities will not kill grass, but . 3. For any other water quality testing please consult the county health department. Daylilies are perfect salt-tolerant plants because they tolerate light sandy or heavy clay soils and even thrive during droughts and floods. Dilution of the salt and chlorine is necessary to reduce the amounts that settle into the soil. But thats all part of the fun, as it increases the chance of there being one which fits with your garden perfectly. Kumquats self-fertilize so you can get one tree that can grow 8-15 feet tall. Citrus. Dwarf and compact shrubs such as Evergreen Viburnum are well-suited to pool deck landscaping. For a different look in a salt-tolerant ground cover, try wall germander, a broadleaf, evergreen sub-shrub with a dainty texture and minty fragrance. Another one for those who like to combine sea air, gardening and eating, this plant typically grows wild along the coast of Europe, from the Black Sea to the North Atlantic, meaning it too is something of a tough cookie. Portulaca is truly a showstopper plant if weve ever seen one. Water lilies (Nymphaea) adapt to any depth, so use them liberally. Saltwater pools tend to salinate the area around them, so its important to know what type of plants work well around them. This plant has flat, paddle-like stems, narrow spines, and cheery yellow blooms, which makes it agreat choice for rock gardensalong roadsides or near the seashore. Sweet potato vines come in many beautiful colors and variegations, but this bright chartreuse 'Marguerite' (also called 'Margarita' or 'Margarite') is one of the most striking and hardy. Yet, some plants handle salt exceptionally well . The trees are named pin oaks for a reason: They often have smaller lower limbs that jut out of their trunks, and when they fall off, they leave sharp and pointy stubs. Here's a look at what plants you should and shouldn't install around a pool area. If you are considering a succulent garden, you'll definitely want to include some of these small, drought-tolerant plants. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. With their large, showy flowers that come in red, orange, pink and yellow, Hibiscus are a must-have for any tropical scheme. While staghorns can't take direct sunlight, they like lots of bright, indirect light and could do very well in a hanging basket or mounted on a wall in a pool area since they love moisture. Its common namekangaroo pawgives a big hint as to where this popular perennial hails from: Australia. Before you begin planting, make sure to plant only plants that can tolerate the salt water from the pool. They would create a lovely backdrop in a shady spot and look elegant when planted in big colorful potslike others on this list, these will give a tropical vibe even in places that have a cold winter; just bring them inside. Some plants can tolerate some degree of salt water, such as the amount splashed outside of a saltwater pool. The jury is still out on exactly how many parts per million each plant can handle but anything over 1000ppm is too high . If you do not live in the tropics but can grow it in your zone, Staghorns do great mounted on wood slabs or bark, hanging baskets, or attached to trees. They are very partial to sunlight, which keeps them thirsty, so bear this in mind when deciding where to plant them. This category includes plants such as fountain grass, fescue, zebra grass, and rush. Which plants you place near your pool will depend largely on the water in your pool. Prune this pretty pick as a hedge or tree. Here is a simple guide for choosing plants for your poolside garden. However, gardening in these environments can present a challenge. Zenith Zoysia lawn with a modernistic pool coping and border. Succulents have been traditionally overlooked in American gardens, but in the western United States, they have been enjoying a surge in popularity. There are alternatives. Add height to the landscaping around your pool with vining plants. This bushy flowering plant is ideal for most climate zones and is celebrated for being hardy. In addition, the same quality is not favoured by many plants, as these struggle in the atmospheric conditions that the sea air brings. All soils contain salt, which is one of the vital nutrients for plant growth. A saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean. Hummingbird Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica), 17. For those who are interested in both gardening and cooking, this one will come as good news. Proteas are usually stiff and prickly to the touch but also hardy and long-lasting. These 18 plants and trees are all good choices for pool landscaping; check carefully, though, to be sure they are right for your climate and soil conditions. This gorgeous spiky addition is famous for being able to thrive in dessert conditions. Quite likely the most versatile of all herbs, the hardy and robust thyme is more than comfortable in exposed coastal conditions, and will thrive even with the barest of care and attention, as it tolerates drought well. These adorable flowers are unfortunately toxic to dogs and cats. Contents. Its petals close at night, before opening the next morning, while their brilliantly colouredorange flowers are hard to beat. 1.5 Salvia. And while it looks quite tropical, ideal on a pool patio area, this particular variety can withstand freezing temperatures down to -10 degrees. Deadhead flowers regularly for constant bloom. Sea Kale (Crambemaritima) Another one for those who like to combine sea air, gardening and eating, this plant typically grows wild along the coast of Europe, from the Black Sea to the North Atlantic, meaning it too is something of a tough cookie. If you go to your local grocery store, you might have seen prickly pears being sold in the produce section. The best plants to put around saltwater pools also tend to be low maintenance, mold-resistant, and unlikely to attract too many wild animals. If there are flowers near your pool, then the sweet scent of nectar will make the pool area even more attractive to the bees. This is because thats where they are most commonly grown in nature. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. The plant, located near Lake Charles, Louisiana, expects to resume operations by spring 2022. . For best results prune in spring and regularly remove spent flowers . Otherwise, they wouldnt be so common in oceanic zones, right? But this broadleaf evergreen with spiky leaves and tall stalks with white bell-shaped flowers is native to the sandy beaches and fields of the southeast, and has also naturalized farther north. Test the water on a few inexpensive and replaceable plants before watering trees. Regular weeding and trimming is a must. The horned poppy is also resentful of root disturbance, so once you have decided where best to plant one, it is best left alone. No smelly chloramines. It requires little water and performs well near the ocean or a swimming pool. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. After attending the University of Missouri St. Louis, Stephanie Rempe worked as a documentation manager in the finance industry 10 years before turning to her first love, writing, which she's been doing professionally since 2008. Keep Flowers Away from the Pool Area. Feels good to grow. Given its ability to propagate due to its extensive root system, it can be difficult to eradicate once fully obtained. You can grow your own prickly pear cactiandenjoy them by the pool. The result is the dehydration of plants. In some regions, jade is a popular houseplant; in others, it can grow almost like a weed and is extremely unfussy. Dilution of the salt and chlorine is necessary to reduce the amounts that settle into the soil. With enough plants, this alone will do a great job of keeping the bees away from the pool. Despite being a brassica, sea kale doesnt taste like cabbage, with its stems instead resembling a cross between asparagus and celery. 1. The fruits or haws are edible to humans, and can be made into jelly or homemade wine. Like other woody herbs, it will give off a fragrance that is difficult to resist, making it ideal to plant quite low down, so that when you brush alongside it as you walk by, its aroma will surround you. Finding salt tolerant plants to for your lawn can be a challenge. Remember that salt tolerant does not mean injury free. Though they don't have as spectacular a fall color (reddish-brown) as other oaks, white oaks (and red oaks) are extremely durable, adaptable, and pollution-tolerant to use as "street trees" that must inevitably endure a slurry of salt in the winter. Because of the height pin oak trees can reach, they are best for furnishing shade. Same goes for salt water system pools. Their dusty-green leaves are delicate, rounded . Virginia creeper is hardy, aggressive, but indigenous to North America. Also the right size for around salt water pools. All parts of the angel's trumpet plant are toxic and poisoning can occur from ingestion and even touching the plant. Hardy and tough. The fast-growing Sunburst honey locust (a trademarked cultivar) is a tough, classic street tree with fern-like leaves that tolerates a number of challenging conditions, including salt, pollution, dry soil, and compacted soil. Unsurprisingly, the butterfly cant get enough of this plant. Some plants don't grow well in soil that has a high salt level. Palms tend to do well in sandy, salty areas. This stemless salt-tolerant shrub prefers poor, rocky, or sandy soil areas found in seaside and roadside areas. There are various saltwater pool plants you can choose from that can handle the average dousing from splashing water. This plant is somewhat adaptable and drought-tolerant, and does well in shifting sandy, rocky, or other poor soils, making it a good contender for coastal areas in the northern regions. It's tough, drought-tolerant, and helps control weeds and erosion. Bougainvillea bracts are showier than its teeny bland flowers, and they come in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, yellow, and also plain white. Water from storm sewers runs into our creeks, rivers and lakes untreated, which if contaminated with swimming pool water can harm the environment. If you are not up for the challenge of trimming it on the regular, we dont suggest this one. 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