Pool Privacy
 

We are considering building a pool and would like a little privacy on two sides. Trying to decide between a step down wall or just foliage. Pros and cons?

Foliage suggestions?

The amazing pool designer for T&D, Vera, designed our pool with a raised edge toward the street and said she thought it wise to be fully screened to the ground to allow air to flow and circulate as it is SO hot here. T&D dug up our back foundation plantings and temporarily planted them (rather covered their roots with dirt in the corner of our lot while they were doing the pool) and when finished planted them around the pool and they quickly grew, especially things like the butterfly plants, and well almost everything. We dropped in several Hibiscus bushes and they too took off like wild fire. I think the neighbors can see us when we are seated by the pool, but not in it so much. I know it must be tempting to build half walls, but I don't recommend it. It is HOT enough.

Podocarpus makes an excellent privacy hedge. We used Viburnum when we built and it also makes an excellent privacy hedge. But the Viburnum grows incredibly fast so trimming is a constant issue. Podocarpus grows as well but a bit slower requiring less trimming. Now having said that, you need to decide how to place any hedge plants. If you plant anything directly around the pool screen if you have a pool screen, it presents a serious problem for screen replacement. We solved that issue by planting our privacy hedges just inside the property line. My sprinklers run along the pool enclosure and reach the hedges on both sides. When we decide to re-do our privacy hedge, we will use Podocarpus due to its slower growth and better shape.

Foliage by all means, you’ll always have to look at a wall (boring!). You can change the foliage and the view, the walls are eternal. Foliage will also give you more air flow for your pool area.

Foliage for sure. Viburnum is an excellent privacy hedge, grows quickly and you can go as high as you want.

We did a little of both since we have a view and a bike path behind our house. We have a short wall along the back of pool that blocks anyone on the bike path from seeing anyone in the pool but also allows us to see the Preserve from our lanai. We also have shrubs on the side of our birdcage so our neighbors don't have to see me in the pool. lol

Pool Privacy
 

We appreciate the detailed responses. Gave us some good things to think about. Thank you!

Pool privacy
 

[QUOTE=Rison2242;1980623]We are considering building a pool and would like a little privacy on two sides. Trying to decide between a step down wall or just foliage. Pros and cons?

There are plenty of foliage options to provide visual privacy, but sound privacy is best served by a wall. My wall is 4 & 5 feet high. I have adequate air flow, but a friend has 6 foot wall and has problems with air flow.

Foliage suggestions?[/QUOTE

pool
 

Privacy screens on both sides with a mural.

pool
 

ps screns

Pretty

Another vote for foliage! We have podocarpus but wish we had viburnum. Either would be good I’m sure. I do have 2 suggestions though.

One, plant the bushes far enough away from your screen so they can be trimmed behind them. Someone will need to walk between the screen & plants with a trimmer.

Two, check your lawn/plant sprinkler heads often to be sure your pool is not being hit with recycled water. It will upset the water balance in your pool negatively.

Viburnum is actually a large plant family. I don't know what variety we have, planted by the builder they are now ten years old. I cut them about 3-4 times a year no trouble keeping them at 6 foot, easy to care for, no disease, no insects.

Podocarpus, I am not familiar with it but internet says it grows to 40-50 feet and 25 foot wide.

Foliage is a maintenance headache, continued reoccurring costs and dramatic negative impact for maintenance on the pool. Use a fence/solid barrier and just put accent greenery

Huh? Do you live in The Villages?

We did the step down wall and somehow not quite enough so we replaced the screen on top of the step down wall to a higher grade screen, we can see out be almost impossible to see in, unless after dark and we have some kind of light on inside the screen area.

Fences aren’t allowed in most of the Villages.
Foliage is on the outside of the birdcage (which is screened), so leaves, etc won’t get in the pool.

If foliage - keep in mind the screens are replaced from the outside. Not a problem unless a screen gets dmaged or old.........

Podocarpus is similar to Viburnum. Viburnum will grow huge as well. I've seen Viburnum hedges over 30 feet high and 10 feet wide. I trim my Viburnum hedges at least 5 or 6 times a year to keep them 6 feet high and 2 feet wide. My Podocarpus plants surrounding my AC Condenser needs trimming just a couple of times a year and each time the clippings just fall into the bed. My Viburnum clippings fill a few paper lawn bags from Home Depot. I didn't add in my first post that I would replace my Viburnum with Popocarpus if my original hedge would not be so difficult to remove now.