For many homeowners, the above-ground pool is a practical choice for summer fun, but it often lacks the aesthetic “wow factor” of its in-ground counterparts. However, with the right gardening and landscaping strategy, you can camouflage the exterior walls and transform your backyard into a five-star Mediterranean or tropical retreat.
The secret lies in “layering”—using a mix of textures, heights, and colors to create a seamless transition from the lawn to the water’s edge. Here are ten stunning gardening ideas to elevate your above-ground pool into a resort-style oasis.
1. Tropical Palms
Nothing screams “resort” quite like the sight of swaying palm fronds against a blue sky. If you live in a warmer climate, planting palms like Windmill Palms or Sago Palms directly into the ground around your pool creates an instant canopy. For those in cooler regions, large potted palms like Majesty Palms can be placed on the decking and brought indoors during winter.
The architectural structure of palms provides excellent height, which helps distract the eye from the height of the pool walls. Pair them with broad-leafed plants like Elephant Ears (Colocasia) to create a dense, jungle-like privacy screen that feels secluded and exotic.
2. Tiered Decking
A pool deck is the ultimate bridge between gardening and architecture. Instead of a simple ladder, a wrap-around, multi-level deck allows you to integrate gardening beds directly into the structure. By building “steps” of decking, you create platforms for oversized planters and built-in benches.
Using a combination of natural wood and stone-filled gabion baskets at the base of the deck can create a modern, industrial-chic look. In the built-in planters, focus on cascading plants like Creeping Jenny or Sweet Potato Vine, which will spill over the wood grain and soften the hard edges of the construction.
3. Bamboo Screens
Privacy is a cornerstone of the resort experience. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing privacy solutions available. When planted in long, narrow troughs or behind a retaining wall near the pool, it creates a living wall that rustles beautifully in the breeze.
To avoid bamboo becoming invasive, choose “clumping” varieties or use large rectangular planters. The vertical lines of the bamboo stalks provide a sophisticated, Zen-like backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the circular or oval shape of most above-ground pools.
4. River Rocks
One of the biggest challenges with above-ground pools is the “mud zone” created by splashing water and heavy foot traffic. A wide border of river rocks or Mexican beach pebbles is a functional and aesthetic solution. Rocks provide excellent drainage, protecting your pool’s frame from moisture buildup and preventing the grass from dying.
Incorporate larger boulders within the rock bed to create a naturalistic “rock garden” feel. Tuck drought-tolerant succulents or Alpine plants between the stones for a low-maintenance, high-impact look that requires very little water.
5. Climbing Vines
If your pool features a lattice or a high fence for safety, don’t leave it bare. Climbing vines can turn a functional safety feature into a vertical garden. Varieties like Star Jasmine or Clematis provide a lush green curtain and a heavenly fragrance that enhances the sensory experience of your swim.
For a more temporary or seasonal look, Morning Glories or Mandevilla grow rapidly and produce stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. As the vines wrap around the pool’s support structure, they effectively “hide” the metal or resin frame, making the pool look like a natural part of the landscape.
6. Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are the secret weapon of professional landscapers. They offer movement, texture, and height without requiring much maintenance. Feather Reed Grass or Pink Muhly Grass creates a soft, hazy border that blurs the line between the pool and the rest of the yard.
Because these grasses grow tall, they are perfect for hiding the plumbing and filtration systems that often sit beside above-ground pools. Their golden or purple hues in the autumn ensure your pool area looks beautiful even when the swimming season has ended.
7. Retaining Walls
If your yard is sloped, a retaining wall is a necessity, but it can also be a design feature. By building a stone or paver retaining wall around half of the pool, you can “bury” the pool into the hillside, giving it the appearance of an in-ground installation.
The top of the retaining wall serves as a perfect ledge for potted plants, lanterns, or even a place to set a drink. Use a mix of “thrillers” (tall plants like Dracaena), “fillers” (mounded plants like Petunias), and “spillers” (trailing plants like Lobelia) in pots along the wall to create a professional floral display.
8. Lavender Borders
For a Mediterranean resort vibe, nothing beats the combination of stone, water, and lavender. Planting a dense border of Lavender (Lavandula) around the sunny side of your pool provides a pop of color and a relaxing aroma.
Lavender thrives in the heat and sun reflected off the pool’s surface. It also has the added benefit of attracting butterflies while deterring certain pests. Pair it with silvery foliage plants like Lamb’s Ear or Artemisia to create a sophisticated, muted color palette that feels like a villa in Provence.
9. Solar Lighting
A resort isn’t just for the daytime. To achieve that high-end look after the sun goes down, integrated lighting is essential. Use solar-powered “up-lighting” tucked into your garden beds to highlight the textures of your ornamental grasses or the trunks of your palm trees.
String lights draped from tall wooden poles around the perimeter of the pool garden can create a “bistro” atmosphere. Lighting the foliage around the pool rather than the pool itself creates a soft, ambient glow that makes the water look inviting and mysterious.
10. Evergreens
If you want your backyard to look polished year-round, evergreens are a must. Boxwood hedges can be trimmed into formal shapes to create a structured border around the pool’s base. For height, slender evergreens like Skyrocket Junipers or Italian Cypresses provide a “colonnade” effect that is very popular in high-end European resorts.
Evergreens provide a consistent green backdrop that ensures your pool area doesn’t look barren during the winter months. They also drop very little debris, which is a major plus for pool owners who want to keep their water clear of falling leaves and needles.
