Pool landscaping isn’t just about aesthetics. When your pool’s drainage is working, no one gives it a second thought, but when it fails, it becomes very apparent. At the very least, it can cause unsightliness and inconvenience; at its worst, it can cause damage that is costly to fix.
For this reason, taking a careful look at your yard’s drainage issues is an essential, albeit not very glamorous, part of the design process and must be reflected in the pool and landscaping design plans. Creating such a plan requires in-depth knowledge of drainage principles, site topography, soil types, etc. It takes understanding the potential problems and the solutions that will head them off at the pass. It takes a professional landscape designer.
Why Good Landscape Design Matters
Left untouched, water will find its own path. This can result in water collecting against the home's foundation or the exterior wall of the pool. Or, it might cause pooling in your, or your neighbour's, yard. Ignoring drainage could mean rainwater and pool splash draining back into the pool, contaminating it.
While designing the best drainage solution for your pool and landscape, the designer takes a holistic approach. They don’t just look at your pool itself, but also at the impact it will have on your entire yard. They consider where drainage versus infiltration will work best. Drainage, whether natural or man-made, diverts water away from an area. Infiltration is when the water is allowed to sink into the ground. Soil compositions each have different properties. Understanding the soil composition of your property informs what will work best; drainage or infiltration.
Landscape Design Drainage Breakdown
Many additional elements of a landscape design plan perform secondary roles, such as ensuring the pool’s impact on the yard’s natural drainage is corrected.
Decks & Patios
For example, you may have a deck that surrounds the pool. Designed to slope away from the pool at 21 mm per meter, the pool deck prevents dirty water from washing back into the pool. Patios can also be built with pervious stones or gaps, allowing the water to sink through, rather than collect on top.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls, when built properly, are another example of a landscape design solution, which in this case, would help with yard regrading. If they are not built properly, water pooling and freezing behind the retaining walls can quickly accumulate, creating problems.
Man-Made Drainage Systems
A man-made drainage system, such as a French drain, can also be incorporated into the design. The type of drain selected will depend on what problem the designer needs to address.
Natural Drainage Systems
A designer may choose to include a rain garden; a garden that is placed at a strategic location to collect water. It needs a soil composition that absorbs water quickly. With the right flowers, it can be a habitat for butterflies and birds. You can also consider adding a bird bath. The landscape designer is also adept at choosing the plants, shrubs, and trees that will enhance the drainage and infiltration of your yard.
Whether we are using ground covers, retaining walls, or adding a drainage system, addressing the drainage around the pool, and in the entire yard, is paramount to a successful landscape and pool project. And, yes, while we do it so it looks aesthetically pleasing and all naturally part of the design, drainage considerations are just as important for keeping it in tip-top condition. Action Home Service offers a range of drainage solutions for every home's landscape design needs. Contact us today to learn more about how you can protect your yard with proper drainage.
