Landscaping with trees around a swimming pool is never an easy task as you need to make sure you plant something that will not cause blockages in the pool.
If you were to page through landscaping books from 20 years back, the only trees recommended are palms, banana trees and large cactuses. These plants would create a look but not provide shade in the summer months.
Types of trees to consider for pool areas
Most people would say they prefer evergreen trees for a pool area, as they do not lose their leaves. Unfortunately, you will find that evergreen trees shed some leaves throughout the year and deciduous trees only once a year during autumn & winter. Thus, both can be considered as options. Trees with smaller leaves work better when planted close to pools as they will not block the filter so easily. Flowers & Fruit will also play a deciding factor when it comes to pool planting. Trees bearing smaller flowers or fruit would be first options compared to trees with larger flowers & fruit.
Aspects to consider when planting trees close to pools
It is best not to plant trees closer than 2m from the side of the pool, to allow sufficient space for tree & root development. If the available space around the pool does not allow for that, then only trees with less opportunistic root systems must be considered for planting. Tree roots naturally grow around any obstacles in their way and will not cause any damage to pool structures. Tree roots will grow where they find water, so if your pool leaks, the tree roots will grow towards the leak to make use of the available water. You will also find that roots can lift paving around the pool in areas where lots of water splashes onto the paving. If your garden has clay soil, tree roots tend to grow more towards the surface, and that can once again create problems when it comes to the paving around the pool.
Our suggestions
Depending on the look and feel you want to create, the following tree options can be considered:
| Trees for pool areas: Evergreen | |
| Common Name: | Latin Name: |
| Fever tree | Vachellia (Acacia) xanthophloea |
| Wild Olive | Olea africana |
| Fruiting Olive | Olea europeae |
| Natal Mahogany | Trichellia Emetica |
| Sweet Viburnum | Viburnum sinensis |
| Laurustinus Viburnum | Viburnum tinus |
| Cape Holly | Ilex mitis |
| Outeniqua Yellowwood | Afrocarpus (Podocarpus) falcatus |
| Real Yellowwood | Afrocarpus (Podocarpus) latifolius |
| Henkel’s Yellowwood | Podocarpus henkelii |
| White Pear | Apodytes dimidiata |
| False Olive | Buddleja saligna |
| Bladder-Nut | Diospyros whyteana |
| Cape ash | Ekebergia capensis |
| Tree-Fuchsia | Halleria lucida |
| Lavender Tree | Heteropyxis natalensis |
| Forest Elder | Nuxia floribunda |
| Cheesewood | Pittosporum viridiflorum |
| Cape Beech | Rapanea melanophloes |
| White Ironwood | Vepris lanceolata |
| Sneezewood | Pteroxylon obliquum |
| Wild Peach tree | Kiggelaria africana |
| Red Stinkwood | Prunus africana |
| Trees for pool areas: Deciduous | |
| Common Name: | Latin Name: |
| Japanese Maple | Acer palmatum |
| Silver Birch | Betula pendula |
| Safsaf Willow | Salix mucronata |
| Pompon Tree | Dais cotinifolia |
| White Stinkwood | Celtis africana |
| Chinese hackberry | Celtis sinensis |
| Pride of India | Lagerstroemia indica |
| Chinese Elm | Ulmus parvifolia |
| Trees for pool areas: Semi-Deciduous | |
| Water Oak | Quercus nigra |
| Forest Bushwillow | Combretum kraussii |
| River Bushwillow | Combretum erythrophyllum |
| Leopard Tree | Caesalpinea ferrea |
| Hibiscus | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis |
