Swimming Pool Landscape (landscaping, growing, grass, concrete)

[Reactionary]

I'd like ideas for landscaping around a swimming pool.

Tennessee Zone 7A. The pool has concrete apron: South and East sides have six foot high fence about eight feet away from concrete, house on West side, North side open.

Requirements: maximize sunshine, minimize debris, low maintenance, and of course, spectacularly beautiful

[wit-nit]

Aren't there any local landscape companies, plant nursery's or horticulturists in your area that can give you the hands on local information that you are looking for? Nursery's looking for your business surely would be glad to help advise you.
The posters on this board are scattered all over the country so you may not get the correct information you seek.

[Reactionary]

nitram - sure there are, I was trying to cast a wider net for ideas. I may know a little something about gardening myself, it's just I have no creativity

Thanks for responding

[wit-nit]

I live in the desert of AZ and would not want to try and give creative suggestions for your area as I know nothing about TN and what to create. Wouldn't want to have you try something and it ended up not working and costing you some money. Hopefully someone in your region can help you. Don't you have any landscape companies in your area that can give you some creative ideas?

[knoxgarden]

Where are you in Tennessee? There's a very active Tennessee Garden forum on Garden Web and several plant swaps in Spring and Fall. Those are great for getting ideas plus tons of plants.
Gardening in Tennessee - GardenWeb

[Reactionary]

Murfreesboro. Thanks for the link.

[knoxgarden]

Make plans to go to the Middle Tennessee Plant Swap (abbreviated MTPS on Garden Web). It will be held May 17th at Henry Horton State Park.
TN State Parks: Henry Horton State Park
Usually starts about 9 a.m. Details will be posted on Garden Web in the Spring. You'll have a great time, get lots of plants and advice, eat all kinds of great food at the potluck and meet some wonderful people.
You're welcome to come to the Knoxville swaps. Those are usually a week before the MTPS.
Knoxville Plant Swap

[jkmewright]

Reactionary, my first instinct is pampas grass. Plant it and leave it alone. No care, and no water worries once established whallah! The perfect fast growing easy care yard plant. We have it around here alot but what I did to add a little spice was to get the ones with pink plumes. So pretty. They will do wonders to soften the fence and are vaguely reminiscent of grasses on beach dunes. You will want to keep them away from traffic areas as the "leaves" are very sharp. Oh and you are supposed to cut them down to promote growth but mine are 7 yrs old and seem to be doing good. Plus, I planted them to hide the neighbor's nasty yard and I still don't want to see it so no cutting here

[Reactionary]

jkmewright - thanks for the suggestion - nice photo. Good point about the sharp leaves - don't want kiddies playing around the pool to get cut. However, I do use sawgrass and yucca and sticker bushes for 'security' - plant them where I don't want people to go...

I like grass. I've had success with switchgrass - especially, Panicum virgatum 'Northwind', which maintains its' upright habit, ~5' tall, blueish foliage, pinkish flowers.

I was thinking of putting the switchgrass as a hedge / vertical accent between the pool and the fence.

Any suggestions for lower plantings / groundcovers around the base of switchgrass? Specimen plants for the corners?

And thanks to the tip from jkmewright - another requirement is kid-friendly.

[FLPL75]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

I'd like ideas for landscaping around a swimming pool.

Tennessee Zone 7A. The pool has concrete apron: South and East sides have six foot high fence about eight feet away from concrete, house on West side, North side open.

Requirements: maximize sunshine, minimize debris, low maintenance, and of course, spectacularly beautiful

Do you have any pictures?
This may help with giving some suggestions.