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The Daily Insight

How much does landscaping around a pool cost

Author

Andrew Vasquez

Updated on May 05, 2026

Landscaping. Landscaping plays a prominent role in pool project pricing, and it can cost $1,500 to $5,200 on average, or around $4 to $12 per square foot to add shrubs, plants, and trees.

How much should I budget for landscaping?

A general rule of thumb is to spend 10% of your home’s value on landscaping. So, if you have a $400,000 house then a landscaping budget of $40,000 is appropriate.

How do you landscape around a pool on a budget?

  1. Around the pool string lighting. Image via Advantage DMS. …
  2. Underwater LED pool lighting. Image via UltimatePoolGuide. …
  3. Fireplace lighting. Image via PhotoMontana. …
  4. Stone walkway to the pool. …
  5. Rock garden. …
  6. Recycled garden planters. …
  7. Add some accent plants. …
  8. Ornamental grass borders.

How much does it cost to landscape around an above ground pool?

LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTSCOSTGazebo Installation$5,364 to $9,027

How much does paving around a pool cost?

Paving around your pool An efficient way to pave your pool is to use coping; slabs of stone or concrete which can be used to cover the area surrounding your pool. Depending on the kind of coping that you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere from $35 to $60 per piece.

Is landscaping worth the money?

Landscaping is worth the money if you get the cost-to-value balanced. This means spending up to around 10% of your home’s value on your garden ideas, to be as sure as you can be that you haven’t over-spent and that you will recoup a good percentage of your spend when you sell your home.

How do I estimate the cost of landscaping?

LandscapingAverage CostPer Square Foot$4 – $12 per square footPer Hour$50 – $100 per hourNew Installation$3,000 – $15,950

What is the best thing to put around an above-ground pool?

  • Concrete or Pavers. Concrete patios are a dependable and easy to care for option for your poolside. …
  • Gravel or Rock. Using gravel or rock is one of the most popular ways when landscaping around your above ground pool. …
  • Plants or Trees. …
  • Planters.

How do you landscape around a pool?

Shrubs and Flowers When adding bushes or flowering plants to your in-ground pool area, it’s always a good idea to look for vibrant, colorful plants that will complement the bright blue of the pool water. Choose plants of several different colors and textures to take your pool’s landscape from monotonous to audacious.

How do you put a border around an above-ground pool?

Add a border of wood, brick, rocks, or pavers around your pool at least a foot away from the bottom of the pool. Fill the area between the pool and its new border with decorative rocks, gravel or mulch. It creates an attractive visual transition between your pool and the rest of the yard.

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What should I put around my inground pool?

Material options include stamped concrete, limestone, brick, tile, and pavers. Consider non-slip surfaces to protect kid injuries if your pool is used by children. Keep pool access in mind, too. If the cement around your inground pool borders your lawn, and swimmers have to trek through grass to get to the pool.

How can I make my pool look good?

  1. Separate Coping Color. …
  2. Decorative Patio. …
  3. Gravel Between Pool and Fence. …
  4. Dress Up the Fence. …
  5. Arched Gate. …
  6. Flowers/Greenery/Shrubs/Etc. …
  7. Water Features. …
  8. Multiple Seating Elevations.

How large should a deck be around a pool?

A good rule of thumb is for a deck’s square footage to be at least the same as your pool’s square footage. To illustrate with a simple example, say a rectangle pool is 15 feet wide by 30 feet long. With a 450-square-foot pool, the deck should also be at least 450 square feet.

How much does it cost to put stone around a pool?

Pool Pavers CostsZip CodeSq. ft.BasicBetterPool Pavers – Material Prices$490.00 – $525.00$577.50 – $665.00Pool Pavers – Installation Cost$2187.50 – $2222.50$2275.00 – $2677.50Pool Pavers – Total$2677.50 – $2747.50$2852.50 – $3342.50

What is the most expensive part of a pool?

The cost of additional patio is usually the most expensive option to the pool because most people get at least 300–700 extra square feet of patio beyond their initial 3–4′ border.

How much should I pay to have pavers installed?

The average labor cost to install a paver patio is $6 to $11 per square foot depending on the pattern, layout, grading, leveling, and operation fees. Professional landscaping companies charge $50 to $100 per hour for brick paver installation and any prep work.

Why is landscaping so expensive?

So, why is landscaping so expensive? Two main factors affect the cost of landscaping: materials and labor. Even the most basic weeding and edging require at least a couple of workers paid by the hour, and the materials can be pretty expensive. That doesn’t even include preparation costs, tools, gas, etc.

Can you negotiate with landscapers?

Yard Work or Landscaping Large landscaping companies will often charge a lot for the work they do, so you’re better off hiring an individual, or someone working for themselves who you can negotiate a price with. If they want the work bad enough, they’ll give you a deal.

Does backyard landscaping increase property value?

Does landscaping add value to homes? A lot of experts say yes. … “This advantage ranges from 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent depending on the type of landscaping and the home’s original value. That translates into an extra $16,500 to $38,100 in value on a $300,000 home.”

What is the cheapest way to landscape a backyard?

  1. 10 Cheap Landscaping Ideas for the Backyard.
  2. Use Mulch Alternatives. …
  3. Repurpose Old Tires. …
  4. Go Vertical With Your Gardening. …
  5. Add a Splash of Color. …
  6. Plant Useful Plants. …
  7. Opt for Natural Perennial Ground Covers. …
  8. Build an Outdoor Fire Pit.

How much does a backyard makeover cost?

Backyard Remodel Cost A total backyard renovation costs $15,000 to $50,000 on average. For a modest remodel, including new sod, bushes and plants, you’re looking at $5,000. On the high end, you can easily break $100,000 with a pool, patio, outdoor kitchen and lounge area.

What should you not plant around a pool?

  • Acacia.
  • Azalea.
  • Bougainvillea.
  • Crape myrtle.
  • Dwarf arborvitae.
  • Honeysuckle.
  • Ash trees.
  • Evergreen elm.

Is grass around a pool a good idea?

Strolling on natural grass is more comfortable on bare feet than harder surfaces. Grass is soft and cool on skin, creating a relaxing sensation. Even with safety rules for your pool and backyard in place, accidents can happen when excited children play around a pool.

Can you put mulch around a pool?

Aside from the normal functions of protecting plants from drought, weeds and sun, mulch can solve a few particular problems encountered around the pool. Mulch can help keep garden soils off of paving materials and out of the pool.

How do you put landscape fabric around a pool?

Lay the roll of landscape fabric on one end of the raked area with the edge overlapping the trench by about 2 inches. Unroll the fabric until it reaches the other edge. If you’re following curved contours of a rounded pool, bend the fabric at the curves to make sure you unroll enough to fill the row.

How much does it cost to build a deck around an above-ground pool?

The cost to build a deck around an above-ground pool is $15 to $30 per square foot depending upon the design and materials used. The deck alone can range from $2,800 to more than $10,000 installed, or buy a small deck system/kit that’s easy to put up as a DIY project for $800 to $3,000.

Should I backfill around my pool?

During excavation, you’ll want to keep some of the excavated soil nearby so you can backfill around the pool once it’s complete. But don’t backfill until you’ve filled the pool with water. Most above-ground pools aren’t designed to withstand pressure from the outside.

What do you edge a pool with?

Coping for a concrete swimming pool can be made of tile, natural stone, and precast concrete. Companies that make pavers and products for pool decks also have different types of pool edging materials and copings—like bullnose styles—to achieve a seamless look between the pool and deck.

Is it safe to put rocks around a pool?

The layer of stone should be placed several inches high onto the wall and about 1-2 feet away from the pool. This layer of stone provides two long lasting guards against pool failure. … Second is that having crushed stone against the wall instead of dirt will allow water to dissipate and dry quicker.

What do you put around the edge of a pool?

Lay mulch, such as shredded bark, to prevent grass and weeds from growing in that 3-foot around around the pool. You also can use gravel or rocks, which will minimize the amount of dirt that gets into your pool.

How do I decorate my inground pool?

  1. Unify Your Surroundings. The key to a great design is balance so make sure the poolside area and the actual pool look unified. …
  2. Use Natural Materials. …
  3. Add Colour. …
  4. Create a Lounge Area. …
  5. Lighting. …
  6. Accent Features. …
  7. Use Potted Plants.