Palm trees near pool? (landscaping, transfer, scorpions)

[sarahp]

We've been transferred and are relocating from the midwest, bought a spec home. and are putting in a pool. I would love to be able to sit by the pool and see palm trees, but we've been told that palm trees are terrible to have by pools - that they make too much of a mess. There are so many different varieties - are there any that are okay to have near a pool?

Thanks!

[SMG]

Welcome to our beautiful state. We just had a pool built and had our yard landscaped...the pool is surrounded by Palms. Some are messier than others. It was a concern of mine and the landscaping company made some good recommendations. We have palms and I recommend going that route. Whatever you do, stay away from Mesquite a Eucalytus trees as they do shed...email me off line if you want more info...SG

[Ponderosa]

I think palms make nice pool area trees. The downside of them to me is that they are not very good shade trees. Shade by the pool, you ask? You'll see. .

Best palms for pool: Mediterranean fan. Disadvantage - slow growing.

Fast growing but eventually has to be removed as it turns into a telephone pole: Mexican Fan. It's a little messy, but that is seasonal not constant.

Nice Palm that will eventually get way too big: Date Palm. Really messy when mature, but you will probably pull it before then.

Queen palms look awful most of the year here, but everybody keeps trying because they look nice at the nursery. It's just too hot and dry for them.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by sarahp

We've been transferred and are relocating from the midwest, bought a spec home. and are putting in a pool. I would love to be able to sit by the pool and see palm trees, but we've been told that palm trees are terrible to have by pools - that they make too much of a mess. There are so many different varieties - are there any that are okay to have near a pool?

Thanks!

They look nice but they are very messy during the monsoon and you'll hate yourself for having trees around the pool I like those saga palms.

[kdog]

We only have one monsoon season on our Mexican fan palms around our pool, but I don't understand what all the fuss is. They're extremely clean as opposed to say deciduous or gawd-forbid pine trees. We also have sago palms and one canary island date palm. Yeah, I've seen the pictures of mature CIDPs.

One thing we have which you might want to consider is an automatic pool cover. That will keep *everything* out of the pool when you're not using it. You can blow the cover off with a leaf blower or brush it off with your pool brush if there's a lot of plant litter on it. It keeps the blowing sand out, which is an issue where we live. Keeps the chlorine in, water from evaporating, keeps the heat in, and is the only safety feature you need (no fence!) because it seals up tight. It's an expensive option, but we absolutely love ours. Would never have a pool again without one.

Anyway, palms around pools is a beautiful classic look. I say go for it!

[nitram]

The ideal, most popular, and cleanest, palm tree around a pool is the very tropical looking "Queen Palm".
Palms, unless planted closely together, are not classified as shade trees. They are more ornamental and for asthetic effect. They also look attractive with a boulder or two planted around them.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by nitram

The ideal, most popular, and cleanest, palm tree around a pool is the very tropical looking "Queen Palm".
Palms, unless planted closely together, are not classified as shade trees. They are more ornamental and for asthetic effect. They also look attractive with a boulder or two planted around them.

Roaches and scorpions hide in the trunks of those queen palms.

[nitram]

No they don't. Where did you get that idea. Scorpions and spiders hide in palms with the large fronds that turn brown and hang down without being trimmed off. Roaches don't hise in palm tress period. Look in your sewer system and plumbing for your roaches.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by nitram

No they don't. Where did you get that idea. Scorpions and spiders hide in palms with the large fronds that turn brown and hang down without being trimmed off. Roaches don't hise in palm tress period. Look in your sewer system and plumbing for your roaches.

My friend has 3 huge Queen Palms on the side of her pool and she wants to take them out because she says roaches come out of them and she heard scorpions hide in there also. She going to pay good money to have them removed. I'm just saying what she says. I only had one small sickly palm in the corner of my pool and it made a mess during monsoon.

[nitram]

Well that's your opinon, but 99% of landscape/nursery/horticulturist companies will agree with what I told you. I have a dozen of them growing for years and never had a problem like you're saying.
Roaches comming out of palm trees, something out of a science fiction movie.
Queen palms are the cleanest of all palm trees.