Homeowners often have good reasons for needing to remove a tree from their yards. Sometimes a tree is sickly or diseased, so removing it can save others from the same fate. Or perhaps the tree poses a risk of falling, and hurting people or damaging your home. Occasionally a tree has just become unsightly for one reason or another.
But what about trees around swimming pools? If you’re considering a pool installation, you might wonder if you can plant anything around it. Alternately, you might be considering whether you need to remove trees, either to make room for the pool or to reduce headaches revolving around cleanup.
The main issue to consider is whether a large tree, such as an oak, will eventually grow such an extensive root system that your pool will be damaged. That absolutely can happen with many varieties of larger trees, and you should be careful of planting these varieties near your pool area.
On the other hand, there are other types of trees that make acceptable landscaping near your swimming pool, such as…
Windmill palms. This tropical, hardy evergreen will grow quickly. That can be good news if you’re looking for landscaping options to complement your pool area. It also won’t drop a lot of debris, so you won’t have serious cleanup issues.
Acacias. These evergreens look lovely around a pool, and their roots aren’t drawn to water. So, you won’t have to worry too much about them growing toward your pool as long as you don’t plant the tree too close. Acacias also provide terrific shade, and don’t shed too much.
Spruce or cypress. Because these evergreens grow quickly and provide thick shade, they make a great privacy canopy for your backyard retreat. They also do a great job of blocking noise from neighbors or the road.
These are just some suggestions, but the general idea is that yes, you can plant trees or keep existing ones if you want to install a pool. Just be mindful of their root structures, and how far those tend to grow from the base of the tree, if you want to avoid problems with your pool’s structure. If you do need to remove trees before beginning your project, give us a call and we’ll help you decide which ones need to go.
