A swimming pool is the centerpiece of a Texas backyard. But the water itself is only half the equation. The landscaping around your pool determines whether it feels like a resort or a construction site. Get it right, and you’ll have a cool oasis that functions beautifully through DFW’s brutal summers. Get it wrong, and you’ll be fighting leaves, roots, and safety violations.
At Groundhogs Services, we’ve designed and installed pool landscaping across Mesquite, Dallas, Garland, and the DFW metroplex. Here’s our guide to getting it right.
Pool-Friendly Plants for North Texas
The key to pool landscaping is choosing plants that don’t drop leaves, flowers, or fruit into the water. Every bit of organic matter in your pool consumes chlorine and creates maintenance work.
Trees (Keep Away from Pool)
- **Crape Myrtle** — The Texas pool favorite. Beautiful summer blooms, non-invasive roots, minimal leaf drop. Plant 10+ feet from the pool edge.
- **Texas Redbud** — Small tree with spring color. Low litter, non-invasive. Plant 15+ feet from pool.
- **Yaupon Holly** — Native evergreen. Tolerates chlorine splash, produces small berries (minimal litter). Can be pruned as a small tree or shrub.
- **Italian Cypress** — Vertical accent that adds Mediterranean feel. Minimal litter, non-invasive roots. Plant 5+ feet from pool.
Avoid: Live oaks (heavy leaf drop, invasive roots), pecans (nuts, leaves, aphid honeydew), cottonwoods (fluffy seeds), pines (needles, sap), and fruit trees (fruit, bees).
Shrubs and Hedges
- **Dwarf Yaupon Holly** — Compact, evergreen, low-maintenance. Great for poolside hedges.
- **Boxwood** — Classic formal hedge. Tolerates partial shade. Watch for leaf miners in DFW.
- **Lantana** — Heat-loving, drought-tolerant, continuous blooms. Attracts butterflies, not bees. Low litter.
- **Plumbago** — Blue flowers from spring to frost. Low-growing, minimal litter.
Groundcovers
- **Asian Jasmine** — Fast-spreading, evergreen, handles foot traffic. No flowers, no litter.
- **Mondo Grass** — Ornamental grass alternative. Handles shade and chlorine splash.
- **Dwarf Mondo Grass** — Even shorter. Great between stepping stones.
Plants to Avoid Near Pools
- **Bougainvillea** — Thorns drop into pool, high litter
- **Bamboo** — Invasive roots can damage pool shell and plumbing
- **Hibiscus** — Large flowers drop into water, attracts bees
- **Jasmine (vining)** — Heavy flower drop, attracts pollinators
- **Any fruit-bearing plant** — Fruit in pool = chlorine demand spike
Coping Materials: The Pool's Edge
Pool coping is the material that caps the pool shell and provides a finished edge. It’s also where swimmers sit, dive, and climb out.
Travertine
The gold standard for DFW pools. Travertine stays cool underfoot (30-40°F cooler than concrete in direct sun), has a natural nonslip surface, and looks luxurious.
Cost: $15-$25 per linear foot installed
Pros: Cool surface, nonslip, beautiful, durable
Cons: Expensive, porous (needs sealing), can chip
Limestone
Texas limestone is locally quarried and affordable. It has a warm, natural look that complements native landscapes.
Cost: $10-$18 per linear foot installed
Pros: Affordable, natural look, cool underfoot
Cons: Soft (scratches easily), needs annual sealing, can spall in freeze-thaw
Concrete (Poured or Paver)
Poured concrete coping is the budget option. Concrete pavers offer more design flexibility.
Cost: $8-$15 per linear foot installed
Pros: Affordable, customizable, durable
Cons: Hot underfoot (140°F+ in July), can crack, less attractive
Flagstone
Irregular natural stone pieces create a rustic, organic edge.
Cost: $18-$30 per linear foot installed
Pros: Unique appearance, durable, natural nonslip surface
Cons: Uneven surface, gaps can collect debris, expensive
Decking Around the Pool
Your pool deck needs to handle water, chlorine, heat, and heavy foot traffic.
Travertine pavers are the top choice — cool, nonslip, and beautiful. $12-$20 per square foot installed.
Concrete pavers are a solid mid-range option. $6-$12 per square foot. Choose textured surfaces for slip resistance.
Stamped concrete is the budget option at $5-$10 per square foot. It can look good when new but fades and cracks over time in DFW.
Cool deck (acrylic coating over concrete) is popular in Texas. $3-$6 per square foot. It stays 20-30°F cooler than bare concrete but needs recoating every 3-5 years.
Fencing and Safety Requirements
Texas law requires pool fencing that meets these standards:
- **Height**: Minimum 4 feet (some cities require 5 feet)
- **Gate**: Self-closing and self-latching. Latch must be above reach of children (54 inches minimum in some jurisdictions)
- **Gap**: No gap larger than 4 inches between the bottom of the fence and the ground
- **Climbable features**: No horizontal rails, lattice, or landscaping within 3 feet of the fence that could be used to climb over
- **Pool covers**: Automatic safety covers are an alternative to fencing but must meet ASTM F1346 standards
Dallas-specific: Pool barriers must have a self-latching gate with the release mechanism at least 54 inches above grade. Mesh pool fences are allowed but must be ASTM-certified.
Drainage Around the Pool
Pool decks need proper drainage to prevent water from pooling and creating slip hazards. In DFW clay soil, drainage is even more critical.
- **Slope**: Pool decks should slope away from the pool at 1/4″ per foot minimum
- **French drains**: Install along the perimeter of the deck to capture runoff
- **Channel drains**: Linear drains at the edge of the deck catch splashing water
- **Downspout extensions**: Ensure roof runoff doesn’t flow onto the pool deck
DFW-Specific Considerations
Heat
Pool deck surface temperatures in July can reach 140°F on concrete. Travertine stays at 95-100°F. Choose materials that won’t burn bare feet.
Evaporation
DFW pools lose 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water per day to evaporation in summer. Plan your landscaping to minimize wind across the pool surface. Fencing, hedges, and pergolas all help.
Chlorine-Tolerant Plants
Chlorine splash damages many plants. Choose salt- and chlorine-tolerant varieties: lantana, plumbago, yaupon holly, and ornamental grasses all handle exposure well.
Ready to Transform Your Pool Area?
Pool landscaping is a complex project that requires coordination between hardscaping, planting, drainage, and safety. Groundhogs Services handles it all — from coping and decking to plant selection and irrigation.
Call (214) 713-1228 or visit groundhogstx.com to schedule a consultation. Let’s build your backyard oasis.
