| Do you have a pool in your backyard? Whether it | | | | around it. (You don't want to plant trees or |
| is an above ground pool, an on-ground pool (half in | | | | bushes near the pool, as the root system can find |
| the ground and half above) or an in-ground pool, | | | | it's way underneath the pool and push upward - |
| there's no need for it to dominate the rest of | | | | and the pool must be absolutely level.) |
| your landscape unless you want it too. | | | | On-ground and In-ground pools |
| Safety Tip 1 | | | | Whatever you have around your pool - furniture |
| The first landscape item you'll need to add to a | | | | or other ornamentation - make sure you place |
| pool is a safety fence. Pools are considered an | | | | these items more than four feet away from the |
| "attractive nuisance", and it doesn't matter how | | | | edge of the pool. This will prevent people from |
| many "no trespassing" signs you may have on | | | | accidently tripping. Have a little shed where you |
| your property. If an intruder - child or adult - gets | | | | can place all the tools needed to care for your |
| into your pool and is harmed - you will be sued | | | | pool, and replace them as soon as you're done |
| for negligence. The only way to protect yourself | | | | using them. Make sure the shed has a lock on it, |
| is to have a fence surrounding the pool. | | | | as you'll be storing chemicals inside it and you |
| Safety Tip 2 | | | | don't want them to disappear. |
| It's imperative that you keep the area around | | | | Wicker furniture placed strategically around the |
| your pool clear of bric-a-brac. For one thing it will | | | | pool, perhaps a table with an umbrella pole in the |
| detract from the attractiveness of your pool, but | | | | middle...those are the traditional sights seen around |
| even more importantly it could cause someone to | | | | a pool. But you can add so much more - a border |
| trip, fall into the pool, and perhaps get injured. | | | | of decorative stone, potted plants, statuary...even |
| Even if there's no question of a lawsuit, it's always | | | | a fireplace. |
| best if your visitors have a good time and don't | | | | You can place lights around your pool to illuminate |
| hurt themselves! | | | | it at night, but beware - if you can't see the |
| Alright, that's the grim stuff out of the way. Now | | | | bottom of your pool, then you must not go |
| let's get to the fun stuff. You've got a pool! What | | | | swimming. That's a simple safety precaution. But |
| should go with it? | | | | there's a certain esthetic satisfaction in watching |
| Above Ground Pools | | | | light play across the shimmering surface of water. |
| Landscaping around an above ground pool is quite | | | | You'll want to enjoy your pool for a long time to |
| different than around one that is on-ground or | | | | come. So, safety first, and esthetic values second. |
| in-ground. The above ground pool is so huge and | | | | But with a little imagination, you can make your |
| dominating that there's not really any way you | | | | pool the shining jewel in your landscape. |
| can minimize it, so why not place potted plants | | | | |