Hardscape or landscape ideas for around the pool

[VinnyinNJ]

20+ years ago when our pool went up I had the "great" idea to put rocks around the pool. I put heavy duty black plastic under them and used black plastic edging to keep it all in check. In my brillance I used pebble stones first and then larger "river rock" stones. To my surprise it didn't stay that way (I'm not into landscaping at all). We started yesterday and it really is a huge PAIN!

But eventually something needs to go back there and we were discussing future things as the big rocks we are removing really need to be cleaned a lot and forget about the pea sized rocks, I'm probably leaving them in the perimeter.

Any ideas? If you can share a photo that would be great!

Thanks!

 

[phonedave]

I have 2" river rock around my pool, with landscape fabric under it. Never had any issues with it (except for weeds)

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I have 2" river rock around my pool, with landscape fabric under it. Never had any issues with it (except for weeds)

I think if I didn't put the pebble stones I think it would have been a little better. What did surprise me after 23 years was the amount of sand/dirt that was mixed with the rocks even with the black plastic. Oh, and the amount of roots that is mixed with them is absolutely crazy!

 

[Decoy205]

After my electric is approved my plan was to add back some weed fabric (the porous kind) then top it with rock. I currently have pea gravel around the entire pool area but may use larger river rock just for the 2’ perimeter of the pool base.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

After my electric is approved my plan was to add back some weed fabric (the porous kind) then top it with rock. I currently have pea gravel around the entire pool area but may use larger river rock just for the 2’ perimeter of the pool base.

We were told to move the rocks which is what we are doing. The pea gravel was our first layer, when we needed more we realized (for us) the gravel wasn't cutting it so we went to river rocks a few weeks later.

We may stick with the river rocks but I was thinking of possibly using rubber or natural mulch or whatever may be out there which is why I asked the question. I still have that pea gravel but it is mixed with dirt/ sand and I would have to sift the mixture to use it again which I really don't want to!

We may still use river rocks, they worked well for us except where our dog decided to dig in them. I used plastic originally but plan on pulling that out and use weed block fabric.

 

[Decoy205]

Yeah I hear you. I had to sift a bunch of pea gravel when back filling the pool before the electrical was done. It actually wasn’t bad. Used 1/4” wire hardware cloth (like the kind you put on a roof to stop critters) and a bucket , NewDude here gave me the idea he used a garbage can. It Worked extremely well and went pretty quick.

I think plastic or mulch isn’t great cuz it holds moisture.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Yeah I hear you. I had to sift a bunch of pea gravel when back filling the pool before the electrical was done. It actually wasn’t bad. Used 1/4” wire hardware cloth (like the kind you put on a roof to stop critters) and a bucket , NewDude here gave me the idea he used a garbage can. It Worked extremely well and went pretty quick.

I think plastic or mulch isn’t great cuz it holds moisture.

Great point about the water retention! Probably the same with the plastic which is why I'm doing fabric this time ... it has only been 20+ years for me to realize it.

I've already looked onto the HD website for that 1/4" wire. If we can get the river rocks done in a timely manner I may sift the edge for the gravel. My wife thinks I'm crazy! I just might be!!! Did you make a frame for it?

 

[Decoy205]

definitely not crazy! We do what we need to in order to protect the investment and hopefully be low maintenance and look halfway decent.

I want to put a border to hold the larger rock, I’m not sure what to use since usually you hold that stuff with aluminum edging, but I don’t want any more metal near the bonding.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

definitely not crazy! We do what we need to in order to protect the investment and hopefully be low maintenance and look halfway decent.

I want to put a border to hold the larger rock, I’m not sure what to use since usually you hold that stuff with aluminum edging, but I don’t want any more metal near the bonding.

Good to hear another person say this! I sometimes think (and I know I do) go over the top.

As far as the edging we used the black plastic type that you bury the bottom and it's circular on top, I think they come in 20 foot rolls; you connect them together with a supplied rod. It looked great to us until our dog who was a pup at the time thought she'd help me dig it up! But I wasn't digging it up!!! I went approximately 1 foot out from the pool and filled in a larger space where my steps were and my filter was. My backyard has a slight slope and I built up an area with retaining blocks to put my filter on to match the slope as best as I could. All that was filled with pea gravel and river rock. We may try the black plastic edging that you spike into the ground, We quickly thought of bricks or something like that but I really don't want to do that.

 

[BritDan]

Is the area you’re trying to landscape the natural low point in your back garden? If it is, you could lay down the landscape fabric then use different sized river rocks to create a dry creek bed effect. Google for some pictures - they can look really sharp but it has to run through the low point of your garden otherwise it looks very false. There aren’t many stream beds on a built up border!

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Is the area you’re trying to landscape the natural low point in your back garden? If it is, you could lay down the landscape fabric then use different sized river rocks to create a dry creek bed effect. Google for some pictures - they can look really sharp but it has to run through the low point of your garden otherwise it looks very false. There aren’t many stream beds on a built up border!

We did use river rocks originally to encircle the old pool, we did like the look. I was wondering if other materials were used but it looks like the consensus is river rock!

 

[Decoy205]

Good to hear another person say this! I sometimes think (and I know I do) go over the top.

As far as the edging we used the black plastic type that you bury the bottom and it's circular on top, I think they come in 20 foot rolls; you connect them together with a supplied rod. It looked great to us until our dog who was a pup at the time thought she'd help me dig it up! But I wasn't digging it up!!! I went approximately 1 foot out from the pool and filled in a larger space where my steps were and my filter was. My backyard has a slight slope and I built up an area with retaining blocks to put my filter on to match the slope as best as I could. All that was filled with pea gravel and river rock. We may try the black plastic edging that you spike into the ground, We quickly thought of bricks or something like that but I really don't want to do that.

Yeah that’s the edging I was thinking of too. I have a fenced in pool and currently no dog. (I do have chipmunks though). I think it will be ok with the rubber edging. If not I’ll just put the pea gravel back with the landscape fabric.

I also have to build a small retaining wall under the deck on the back side of the pool since that grade is about a ft higher. Best to sure everything as wel as possible. In NJ we still get heavy rains!

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Yeah that’s the edging I was thinking of too. I have a fenced in pool and currently no dog. (I do have chipmunks though). I think it will be ok with the rubber edging. If not I’ll just put the pea gravel back with the landscape fabric.

I also have to build a small retaining wall under the deck on the back side of the pool since that grade is about a ft higher. Best to sure everything as wel as possible. In NJ we still get heavy rains!

I'm in Jersey too! It depends where though depending on where a person lives I could be North, South or Central ... LOL!

If you are planning on weed wacking the area make it hard plastic vs rubber, you don't want to shred a soft rubber.

As far as the retaining wall, our property is sloped as well and I built a retaining wall stand for the filter back then. Today it doesn't meet cider as the filter is inly 3 feet away. I took a couple of photos for you of it for a possible idea but be forewarned that it originally looked better than it does today. Somehow the blocks shifted and became whats there today, I really didn't know what I was doing. I used HD blocks which had small locking tabs maybe better quality blocks have larger tabs. I'm going to be removing the structure and probably grade it with dirt once the edging and stones are in.

 

[phonedave]

I think if I didn't put the pebble stones I think it would have been a little better. What did surprise me after 23 years was the amount of sand/dirt that was mixed with the rocks even with the black plastic. Oh, and the amount of roots that is mixed with them is absolutely crazy!

It happens in a lot less than 23 years. Nature tends to reclaim what it owns.

 

[phonedave]

Yeah that’s the edging I was thinking of too. I have a fenced in pool and currently no dog. (I do have chipmunks though). I think it will be ok with the rubber edging. If not I’ll just put the pea gravel back with the landscape fabric.

I also have to build a small retaining wall under the deck on the back side of the pool since that grade is about a ft higher. Best to sure everything as wel as possible. In NJ we still get heavy rains!

I used this edging

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oldcastle-6-Pack-Black-Plastic-Landscape-Edging-Section/3438352?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-LIA_LWN_236_Hardscapes-_-3438352-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=CjwKCAjwlqOXBhBqEiwA-hhitMtGB84iysnN7iRebLRyfJK_jBdhZyiepK5PUHitWkAjxYHHW8RSKxoCYuYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use it in a number of areas in my yard where rock abuts lawn (around the pool, and around the fire pit). If it is a mulched bed (instead of rock) then I use something more substantial - either 4x4 landscape timbers, or if I am feeling ambitious I will put belgin block in a bed of cement.

If you want to use pea gravel, you can look into mulch glue (or a similar product). It "glues" the pea gravel in place, but still lets water drain. You have to reapply it every few years or so.

They also make industrial ones that work a lot better. You can even put the pea gravel and the epoxy into a cement mixer, mix it up, and then spread it out. Those last a lot longer, but are significantly more money (and effort)

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I used this edging

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oldcastle-6-Pack-Black-Plastic-Landscape-Edging-Section/3438352?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-LIA_LWN_236_Hardscapes-_-3438352-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=CjwKCAjwlqOXBhBqEiwA-hhitMtGB84iysnN7iRebLRyfJK_jBdhZyiepK5PUHitWkAjxYHHW8RSKxoCYuYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use it in a number of areas in my yard where rock abuts lawn (around the pool, and around the fire pit). If it is a mulched bed (instead of rock) then I use something more substantial - either 4x4 landscape timbers, or if I am feeling ambitious I will put belgin block in a bed of cement.

If you want to use pea gravel, you can look into mulch glue (or a similar product). It "glues" the pea gravel in place, but still lets water drain. You have to reapply it every few years or so.

They also make industrial ones that work a lot better. You can even put the pea gravel and the epoxy into a cement mixer, mix it up, and then spread it out. Those last a lot longer, but are significantly more money (and effort)

I think we used something similar on our front edging, worked well. Was thinking of using it for the pool.

 

[Decoy205]

I'm in Jersey too! It depends where though depending on where a person lives I could be North, South or Central ... LOL!

If you are planning on weed wacking the area make it hard plastic vs rubber, you don't want to shred a soft rubber.

As far as the retaining wall, our property is sloped as well and I built a retaining wall stand for the filter back then. Today it doesn't meet cider as the filter is inly 3 feet away. I took a couple of photos for you of it for a possible idea but be forewarned that it originally looked better than it does today. Somehow the blocks shifted and became whats there today, I really didn't know what I was doing. I used HD blocks which had small locking tabs maybe better quality blocks have larger tabs. I'm going to be removing the structure and probably grade it with dirt once the edging and stones are in.

Ha yup I gathered that from your name.

It’s been dry this month but I have a feeling the heavy rain is coming.

That plastic harder edging is def something to consider. Currently I don’t have any grass next to the pool it’s rocks around the entire area so no grass. I get the occasional weed but overall it’s been ok.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Ha yup I gathered that from your name.

Of course, I'm a dope!