45 Above Ground Pool Ideas To Cool Off With - Backyard Boss

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Menu Follow Followed Like Threads More Action Sign in now Winter Trends Garden Tools Tips & Guides Close By Danielle McLeod & KC Morgan Updated Jul 4, 2024 Sign in to your BackyardBoss account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Summary

• Above-ground pools can be stylishly integrated into landscaping with creative designs.
• Incorporate decks, trees, and walkways to create an in-ground illusion for above-ground pools.
• Use natural materials, privacy walls, and step designs to blend pools seamlessly into the landscape.

Above-ground pools are not quite as loved as in-ground designs, mostly because above-ground pools stick out against the backyard landscape. In-ground pools are often easier to incorporate into a yard, but the cost of installation is often a turnoff for many, as is the repair needed for your yard after the large pool installation equipment needed is gone.

Don’t pass up on your dreams of a pool just because an in-ground isn’t a possibility. Above-ground pools can look just as elegant and add interest to your landscaping design. Get creative with unique above-ground pool landscaping ideas to get both the poolside ambiance and yard elegance you desire.

1 Use What You Have for an In-Ground Illusion

Use a deck to seamlessly incorporate the pool into your yard

Image credits: MW Miller via Shutterstock

Incorporate an above-ground into your raised deck to provide an in-ground feel without the installation cost. The design will work with many existing deck heights and pool styles and gives you plenty of space to sit back and enjoy the pool area. When you add an above-ground pool to the backyard after a deck has already been installed, install the pool close to your deck to provide a partial in-ground look. With plants around the deck and pool, you get a fallaway sort of look with the deck and pool opening up to a green oasis.

Medium-sized and small flowering trees and shrubs that will not hang out over the pool are perfect for this landscaping design. Use flowering trees to add pops of color and a nice fragrance to the swimming area.

Name	Hardiness Zone	Basic Care
Butterfly bush (Buddleja)	5 to 10	Full sunlight and well-drained soil
Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia)	7 to 10	Six or more hours of daily sunlight with neutral to slightly acidic soil
Hydrangea	3 to 9	Partial to full sun with well-drained soil

2 Create a Raised Garden Retreat

Surround the pool with a deck to design a whole new pool area

Image credits: Cynthia Farmer via Shutterstock

If you don't have an existing deck, build a new one around the pool to create an amazing backyard area. Surround it with tall trees and topiaries to design a more private green space that will look and feel like a raised garden area. Building a deck is no small expense, but it is actually more affordable than installing an in-ground pool and it's a project you can do as a DIY.

Name	Hardiness Zone	Basic Care
Blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca')	6 to 9	Partial to full sun with well-drained, acidic soil
Dogwood (Cornus)	5 to 9	Partial to full sunlight with fertile soil
Juniper (Juniperus)	2 to 7	Full sunlight with moist but well-drained soil

3 Use Walkways for a Custom Look

Design paths that lead to the pool area

Image credits: Serhiy Stakhnyk via Shutterstock

No need to leave the space around your pool vacant. Walkways leading to and surrounding the pool area make it more of a focal point, a backyard landscaping superstar. Surround the path around the pool with large container plants to provide lots of lush greenery.

Name	Hardiness Zone	Basic Care
Blue bush sage (Salvia urica)	7 to 10	Full, bright sunlight with well-drained soil
Geranium	3 to 9	Full sunlight with well-drained soil
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)	7 to 11	Partial to full sun with moist soil

4 Use Existing Hillsides for Poolscapes

Build pools into hillsides to make them look like a natural extension

Image credits: Atiketta Sangasaeng via Shutterstock

Taking advantage of a hillside for above-ground pool forms makes the pool appear like a natural extension of the existing landscape. It's a lovely way to integrate an above-ground pool into the backyard with a more seamless look. The pool becomes a part of the landscape design and serves more than one function.

Using the hill for your pool landscaping design gives you a partially in-ground pool design that is still made with an above-ground framework, so you get a bit of the best of all worlds.

Even a slight hill works well with this design idea. Sloping lawns truly are an above-ground pool’s best friend. You get easy access, fun pool siding materials, and the enjoyment of cool waters.

5 Create a Nature Inspired Design

Use natural materials to make pools fit into the landscape

Image credits: Allison H. Smith via Shutterstock

Natural-looking pools are all the rage in home design, but making your pool look like a natural pond often comes with a hefty price tag. Natural stone, neutral colors, and elegantly placed fountains can do the trick for you without a lot of expense. You can also use concrete to create a more natural look that's also more affordable than natural stone accents.

Blend existing natural hues in with your pool design to create a rustic look.

Create an affordable rustic or natural pool design using local stone and placement symmetry. Large rocks, gravel, and ornamental grasses create a natural look that is easy to design and maintain.

6 Use Privacy Walls to Enclose Spaces

Integrate privacy walls into the landscaping design

Image credits: HannaTor via Shutterstock

If a lap pool seems like a good idea, why not make it a part of your yard boundary as an extension of your privacy wall? The design allows for a continuation of the property line, all while providing a private place to work out and relax. Surrounding an above-ground pool with a privacy wall, even partially, makes it feel more like a private nook.

Try using living walls, which are often easier and less expensive than building actual outdoor walls!

7 Step Down Pool Design

Create a sloping design with stairs

Image credits: Allison H. Smith via Shutterstock

Use stairs to make your pool an extension of a walkout with easy accessibility and welcoming cool waters.

• A short concrete porch can lead straight to an above-ground pool, which is then connected to the backyard with steps.
• A design that looks as if it was part of the natural landscape, this idea comes to life with rock or concrete pool walls that help blend the whole design together and make the pool feel and look like part of the house itself.
• Rock gardens allow for vegetation to be incorporated into the overall design.
• Surrounding the pool with decorative rocks and low-maintenance plants helps to define the area and give it distinction.

8 Partial Fence Perfection

Use a fence to separate the pool area

Image credits: iampaese via Shutterstock

A partial deck and pool fence is often the perfect solution for an above-ground pool. The fence helps to set the pool apart, making it feel more like its own space, which allows your landscaping to shine on its own. Using a fence, even a partial one, comes with several added benefits.

• Lattice and fencing provide a protective barrier and a degree of privacy.
• Fencing, trellises, and other supports provide a perfect opportunity to grow vining and climbing plants that add color and beauty to the pool area.
• Outside of the pool, the fence can serve as a backdrop for an outdoor sitting area.

Create a Cool Pool Oasis

If an in-ground pool is an impossibility due to budget constraints, lack of space, or topographical issues, don’t rule out the many different above-ground options you have.

Taking advantage of hillsides, creating decking spaces, and using vegetation and pool siding materials makes the pool an amazing feature of your overall landscape.

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