Dwarf Shrubs - Great Landscape By A Pool

Dwarf shrubs are wonderful for landscaping around a pool. I love to design small evergreen shrubs around a water setting. Many pools today are decorated with ornamental grasses, vibrant color flowers, and shrubs full of different tone blossoms.

All these plant specimens can produce a wonderful look to your pool area. This theme color garden page offers you another option using just one color tone. There is also less up keep and year around beauty.

In other pages I have talked about using small evergreen plants around low areas such as a deck, patio, and foundations. Your pool, decorative pond, or foundation can also turn into an evergreen sanctuary.

1. Hinoki Cypress
2. Blue Pacific Juniper
3. Hemlock
4. Blue Star Juniper
5. Globosa Nana

Here is a very simple illustration of a pool with a cement walkway circling all the way around. A defined landscape bed can be put around the pool. I like to do a snake pattern along the edge to give the bed a natural look.

Below are a few examples of different dwarf shrubs that may work for you. I have done designs like this one before using five different dwarf shrubs.

Even though these plants are small in height and width, space them out so you can enjoy them from many different angles. Lets take a look at five different varieties of dwarf shrubs.

Hinoki Cypress - great rich green color miniature shrub. The tiny Hinoki is one of the smaller members of the Cypress family. The shrub will grow three to four feet high and two to three feet wide.

The branches are shaped in a pyramid form. Grows great in zones four through eight. I included this shrub six different times in the design. The softness of the needle like leaves gives it a great plant to showcase around the pool.

Blue Pacific Juniper - this is a jewel of a tiny evergreen shrub. Grows well in zones five through nine. Can take full sun but can tolerate shade better then other junipers.

Great for mass planting or as a single plant specimen. Will grow around one foot high and can sprawl out five to nine feet. The Blue Pacific can be pruned back to keep the width under control. I used this shrub six different times in this design. Its teal tones with the green color creates a great appearance around the pool.

Hemlock - this tiny shrub is becoming very popular today. Known for its striking look in rock gardens, I love to incorporate the shrub in a water feature such as a pool area.

The dwarf Hemlock is a cold hardy plant and does well in zones three through eight. There are several different varieties and can grow from one to three feet high and two to five feet wide. It can take full sun and also partial shade. I use this shrub twice in the design.

Blue Star Juniper - the Blue Star lives up to its name as its teal color short needle like leaves will show off any garden.

Grows well in zones five through nine. Likes full sun but can also take shade better then other junipers. Will grow around one foot high and can sprawl out one to to three feet. It tends to be a slow grower but looks great next to the Hemlock.













Globosa Nana - shiny bright blue - green evergreen shrub. Grows around three feet tall and two to four feet wide.

Some people call this the "funky shrub," as the tiny long leaves have a wild look to them. Will grow well in full sun or part shade. Good to plant in zones five through seven. The Globosa Nana is part of the Cryptomeria family.

If the Nana doesn't grow in your area, the Hetz Midget or Little Giant globe Arborvitae will do well as a substitute. The Globe will do well in zones four through eight.

Notice on the design there are four containers or planters on the corners. Decorative pots are an option for the pool area if you want to add a little color.

Plant annuals or perennial flowers and use one or two colors to accent all the miniature evergreens in the landscape. Tiny shrubs can be used in other garden areas.

Take a look at a simple country design and think about using dwarf shrubs in this overall design. If you want a little more zip in color but still want to keep will the evergreen and miniature look, add some variegated plants throughout the landscape area.

If you want a little variation in height pictures of variegated evergreen plants may give you some ideas.

This is a great theme color garden and low maintenance bed to do around your pool. The shrubs are fairly inexpensive and are usually sold in one, three, or five gallon containers.

Dwarf evergreen shrubs provide you with a simple look. Instead of spending hours maintaining your plants you will be able to enjoy relaxing in the pool with family and friends.