Where Water Meets Garden
A pool is more than a place to swim—it’s a focal point that defines your outdoor living experience. The best pool landscapes create a seamless connection between water, garden, and home, transforming a functional feature into a place of beauty and relaxation.
The Art of Pool Integration
Pool landscaping presents unique design challenges. The surrounds must be safe, attractive, and practical. Plants must thrive in reflected heat without dropping leaves into the water. Paving must resist both sun and chlorine. Privacy must be maintained without creating a fenced compound feel.
We approach these challenges with solutions refined over decades of pool landscape projects. Every decision—from coping stone selection to plant spacing—is informed by experience with what works in Melbourne conditions.
Creating Resort-Style Surrounds
Our pool landscapes draw inspiration from the world’s best resorts while remaining appropriate to Melbourne’s climate and lifestyle. We create layered compositions that unfold as you move around the pool: a shaded pavilion for hot afternoons, sun lounging areas for cooler months, garden views that change with the seasons.
The key is proportion and balance. Pool surrounds need enough space to be comfortable without overwhelming the pool itself. Planting should frame views without creating maintenance headaches. Hard surfaces must be large enough for furniture and circulation while maintaining a sense of softness.
Materials That Perform
Poolside environments are demanding. Surfaces must be non-slip when wet, resist chlorine splash, handle bare feet in summer, and age gracefully through Melbourne’s variable weather. We specify materials with proven track records in these conditions.
Our preferred poolside materials include natural stone (particularly locally quarried granite and sandstone), quality porcelain pavers, and select timber decking for areas away from direct splash zones. Each material is chosen not just for appearance, but for how it will perform and age over years of use.
Poolside Planting
Planting around pools requires careful consideration. We favour species that won’t drop leaves into the water: strappy-leafed plants like lomandra and dianella, ornamental grasses, and carefully selected palms and subtropical species. These create the lush, resort-like feel clients desire without the maintenance burden of constant leaf removal.
We also consider root systems to avoid damage to pool structures and underground services. Large trees are generally kept at a distance, with closer planting confined to species with non-invasive root systems.
Privacy Without Prison
Pool areas demand privacy, but poor screening can make outdoor spaces feel confined. We design layered screening using plants at varying heights, combined with structures where appropriate. The result is privacy where it matters while maintaining a sense of openness and connection to the broader garden.
