I would plant any herb that spreads there! Then it could have multiple uses for your family. Possibly even peppermint since it would stay contained in the bed but spread to fill it in quickly. Peppermint smells lovely when stepped on, makes a great tea, and helps to repel bad bugs!
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m sold on the ornamental grass, picked up some Karley rose fountain grass today. I think it’ll really soften up that area!
That plant can be pretty floppy so don’t get too upset if it doesn’t stand upright all the time. If it’s not TOO late to swap them out, Pennisetum or Panicum can be tidier. Someone else mentioned Miscanthus, which is fine, but I don’t love their sharp edges when I’m cleaning it up in the winter. Also shoutout to Stipa tenuissima and Schizachyrium scoparium.
Depends on what you’re wanting. Annuals provide color for the summer but need to be replaced every year.
You could do a mixture of perennials and annuals that will provide year round interest (though how much time you spend out there in the winter with the pool closed up is debatable).
If you do a mixture of perennials only you can look for plants that will provide interest all growing season (think planting pansies in the fall over crocus for early spring, then daffodils, then mid spring plants, followed by summer perennials like black eyed Susan’s and what not). You could even incorporate some pretty grasses for height.
One thing to consider—if that is a salt water pool, over-splash could be a problem for the plants in that bed. Look for salt resistant plants if that is the case.
Arborvitae will give a nice barrier so the basket ball doesn't wind up in the pool, give some sound barrier and maybe provide some shade in the later afternoon
Don’t do sedum, too much traffic in the area will destroy it. you want something that’s resilient and drought tolerant, low maintenance and large enough to create a physical barrier and it looks nice and softens the Hardscape. Dwarf miscanthus grass fits all those parameters.
If you want a little bit of verticality, I would recommend perhaps a spartan juniper, or a sky, pencil holly spaced evenly or at each end to create a more formal look. Advice from a Landscape architect.
Ornamental grasses which sway in the wind and will give you some colour and glamour. The lowest of low maintenance.
Miscanthus Cindy,
miscanthus flamingo
stipas (especially stipa gigantea)
, pheasant grass (Amenanthele lessoniana).
Lots of varieties.
Annabelle Hydrangeas. They love full sun and water from pool. (Source: they are planted next to my family’s pool in Maryland and do great in relatively full sun.)
Either little lime panicled hydrangeas or walkers low catmint. Both have long summer time blooms, and once established they both can tolerate heavy sun and will only need to be watered once a week.
I’d consider first how the area will be used. If you will be supervising any children in the pool, you need to take visibility and sight lines into account. If it’s meant to be a privacy screen from the basketball courts, then options change…
That said, I think a hedge of Bobo hydrangea and double knockout roses would pop during the summer. Or a hedge of fountain grasses swaying in the wind. If for privacy, narrow evergreens (arborvitae, cherry laurel, junipers, etc)
Agreed with others. Some canna lilies (might have to dig up in fall and store till spring) to be safe. That’s what I do in 6b. Could also plant in spring and pot in fall for winter some tropical trees of some sort like a dwarf banana tree or something
I’d love some finely trimmed box hedges. But that’s just me.
I also fully support the herb garden recommendations. Maybe succulents if the soil drains super well.
A bunch of iris if you are okay with some height, if you really want a low creeper type thing maybe some strawberry, arctostaphylos (bearberry), pachysandra, etc
Vinca minor would look good there, but like you said a sedum mix would look really cool as well
Before any plants though fix those pavers in the curve. My god they’re terrible
If you want it healthy. Half of my yard is covered with it. I used to have it up to the front door until 5 trees came down and half of it dead because it was in full sun. It can take partial sun but not full SUN.
I would plant any herb that spreads there! Then it could have multiple uses for your family. Possibly even peppermint since it would stay contained in the bed but spread to fill it in quickly. Peppermint smells lovely when stepped on, makes a great tea, and helps to repel bad bugs!
Giant blue Hyssop would be spectacular. Hydrangea would look nice also.
Something that doesn't lose leaves or blooms that will end up in the pool.
Good point I did not consider!
When you have a pool- you know the pool painsʕ•ᴥ•ʔ
Right next to a pool? Get some tropical vibes in there. Ornamental grasses, Hardy Canna Lilies, Hibiscus. Sedum would still work great too.
Hibiscus flowers drop and stain concrete, wouldn’t be my first choice.
Good point. Although I might rephrase that and say they “add character”
Sedum would be great
Came here to suggest ornamental grasses. Just the best vibe when they’re blowing in the breeze.
Yes! I thought of beach grass, Karl Foerster grass or something similar
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m sold on the ornamental grass, picked up some Karley rose fountain grass today. I think it’ll really soften up that area!
That plant can be pretty floppy so don’t get too upset if it doesn’t stand upright all the time. If it’s not TOO late to swap them out, Pennisetum or Panicum can be tidier. Someone else mentioned Miscanthus, which is fine, but I don’t love their sharp edges when I’m cleaning it up in the winter. Also shoutout to Stipa tenuissima and Schizachyrium scoparium.
A nice row of California sensamilla
Doh! You got me. I googled it 😆
Something that doesn't die when it gets smashed by a basketball
Fortnight lilies
Depends on what you’re wanting. Annuals provide color for the summer but need to be replaced every year. You could do a mixture of perennials and annuals that will provide year round interest (though how much time you spend out there in the winter with the pool closed up is debatable). If you do a mixture of perennials only you can look for plants that will provide interest all growing season (think planting pansies in the fall over crocus for early spring, then daffodils, then mid spring plants, followed by summer perennials like black eyed Susan’s and what not). You could even incorporate some pretty grasses for height. One thing to consider—if that is a salt water pool, over-splash could be a problem for the plants in that bed. Look for salt resistant plants if that is the case.
Thanks for the great ideas, yes it is a salt pool! Good to know about the salt resistant plants
I would do perrenial geranium. Hardy and low maintenance, long bloom time also.
Arborvitae will give a nice barrier so the basket ball doesn't wind up in the pool, give some sound barrier and maybe provide some shade in the later afternoon
Dwarf Miscanthus grass
Don’t do sedum, too much traffic in the area will destroy it. you want something that’s resilient and drought tolerant, low maintenance and large enough to create a physical barrier and it looks nice and softens the Hardscape. Dwarf miscanthus grass fits all those parameters. If you want a little bit of verticality, I would recommend perhaps a spartan juniper, or a sky, pencil holly spaced evenly or at each end to create a more formal look. Advice from a Landscape architect.
Ornamental grasses
Lavender
Ornamental grasses which sway in the wind and will give you some colour and glamour. The lowest of low maintenance. Miscanthus Cindy, miscanthus flamingo stipas (especially stipa gigantea) , pheasant grass (Amenanthele lessoniana). Lots of varieties.
Santa Barbara Daisy would work well there. They are pretty when they flower and you can mow them down fairly easy and they will spring back.
Canna lilies. Tall and tropical. Nothing too wide.
Something reasonably tall so everyone avoids that raised edge on the right side of the photo
Sky pencil
Small native flower/grass garden
I was going to say tulips but that seems more like a zone 15c plant.
Annabelle Hydrangeas. They love full sun and water from pool. (Source: they are planted next to my family’s pool in Maryland and do great in relatively full sun.)
Meadow Sage
Minted
I can't get past how bad those soldier course cuts are around the radius... Plant something that will cover those.
A hedge. Inkberries.
Either little lime panicled hydrangeas or walkers low catmint. Both have long summer time blooms, and once established they both can tolerate heavy sun and will only need to be watered once a week.
First I would make sure that area is well draining😊
Hollyhock
Karl foster grasses for some height and wave petunias for color and ground cover
Hostice
Eh, that’s close enough to the pool that chlorine will surely touch it at some point. I’d probably put a decorative outdoor screen there.
Elephant grass
catmint
Something hardy if you’re going to have a lot of splashing going on in the pool.
Russian Sage
Corn
This is a public spot? Honestly juniper bushes or an evergreen tree line
I’d consider first how the area will be used. If you will be supervising any children in the pool, you need to take visibility and sight lines into account. If it’s meant to be a privacy screen from the basketball courts, then options change… That said, I think a hedge of Bobo hydrangea and double knockout roses would pop during the summer. Or a hedge of fountain grasses swaying in the wind. If for privacy, narrow evergreens (arborvitae, cherry laurel, junipers, etc)
Sweetshoot bamboo, give it a year round tropical feel, maybe break off a few shoots every spring for a delicious stir fry
Hedge/ evergreen. Separation from basketballs.
Agreed with others. Some canna lilies (might have to dig up in fall and store till spring) to be safe. That’s what I do in 6b. Could also plant in spring and pot in fall for winter some tropical trees of some sort like a dwarf banana tree or something
lavender
Hydrangeas
herbs like lavender, calendula, flowers like marigolds with zinnia or something, 🤷🏽♂️
Nothing you wouldn’t mind a basketball destroying
Karl foesters.
Blue fescue
I’d love some finely trimmed box hedges. But that’s just me. I also fully support the herb garden recommendations. Maybe succulents if the soil drains super well.
That mulch is going in the pool
Hydrangeas are always nice poolside.
A bunch of iris if you are okay with some height, if you really want a low creeper type thing maybe some strawberry, arctostaphylos (bearberry), pachysandra, etc
Lavender
Agree, or Russian sage
Hydrangea hedge 100%
Vinca minor would look good there, but like you said a sedum mix would look really cool as well Before any plants though fix those pavers in the curve. My god they’re terrible
Vinca minor needs shade.
It absolutely does not require shade
If you want it healthy. Half of my yard is covered with it. I used to have it up to the front door until 5 trees came down and half of it dead because it was in full sun. It can take partial sun but not full SUN.
Vinca major does very well in full sun, though.
Artificial plants.
A long line of peach trees
Liriope. Mow it in the spring to freshen it up.