Is My Pool Deck to Narrow for Rocks Next to It?

[poolboy234]

Hi all,

The right side of my pool deck has 37.5" of concrete from the pool coping to the edge of the concrete. A fence used to abut the concrete, but it's been removed, and dirt is temporarily there now. I'd like to cover/fill the dirt with decorative rocks which should look nice, but should I do something like artificial turf or pavers to avoid rocks drifting/blowing into the pool? Wet feet could perhaps also stick to the rocks and carry them into the pool, although remedied by larger rocks I guess. The big con with artificial turf/pavers is that it's a lot more expensive than putting down rock.

Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

There is gravel, rocks, and boulders. To me rocks are something I can stub my toe on.

What size “rock” are you considering?

Gravel Around Pools - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[poolboy234]

There is gravel, rocks, and boulders. To me rocks are something I can stub my toe on.

What size “rock” are you considering?

Gravel Around Pools - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

By rocks I think I mean "gravel". Just small decorative gravel/aggregate like you'd see in a supply yard and like people commonly put around pools.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I used 3/4" Arizona River Rock in a section around my deck. I haven't had any problems with rock sticking to feet or getting into the pool. It's not too harsh on the feet if you happen to walk on it. This video is from my local vendor...

 

[Bperry]

Hi all,

The right side of my pool deck has 37.5" of concrete from the pool coping to the edge of the concrete. A fence used to abut the concrete, but it's been removed, and dirt is temporarily there now. I'd like to cover/fill the dirt with decorative rocks which should look nice, but should I do something like artificial turf or pavers to avoid rocks drifting/blowing into the pool? Wet feet could perhaps also stick to the rocks and carry them into the pool, although remedied by larger rocks I guess. The big con with artificial turf/pavers is that it's a lot more expensive than putting down rock.

Thanks!

My parents swimming pool has had a 3/4” volcanic rock about 12 inches away from the side of the pool for the pass 45 years. I think there’s been one or two rocks that have made it in there so it wasn’t a big deal.

 

[Newdude]

I used 3/8ths bluestone (gravel) to try and catch the grass clippings and whatnot before it hit the patio.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

How about planting a ground cover plant?

STEPABLES.COM - Plants that tolerate foot traffic

 

[kimkats]

Just make sure to put a GOOD weed fabric down if you do go with rocks!

 

[Boat Drinks 74]

I added a small bed of liriope then used slate chips and boulders to our space next to our pool. It’s an area that doesn’t get much sun in this bed. Primarily only in the summer does it get good sun, so I wanted to have a bed to place large potted plants that can be moved during certain times of the year for more sun exposure.

 

[Texas Splash]

We have two rock scenarios against our decking. We have an elevated mound with decomposed granite, then a lower section along one side of our decking with river rock to help with drainage. No issues with either. This is an old pic, so ignore the weeds on the mound. They are gone now.

 

[Berger82]

River rock here...

 

[phonedave]

I would go with 3/4" or larger - no pea grave for example. I have 3/8" pea gravel in one spot (not where it can get into the pool) and it does tend to "travel"

You could go with something as pedestrian as 3/4" plain gravel (from whatever rock is prevalent in your area) to something more exotic.

I have a variety or rock in various areas in my yard.

3/4" plain gravel - in my drainage swale
3/4" white marble - parking area (I had this awesome idea to use oyster shells in this spot, until I actually attempted to source them)
1" egg rock - around filter
1" river rocks - around my pool
1.5" egg rock - fire pit area
3/8" pea gravel - vegetable garden paths
1" Eastern Sunrise (this is reddish / tan volcanic stone) - in an area adjoining a shed where grass will not grow.

In your case I would use either egg rock or river rock (river is oval and flat, whereas egg tend to be more like, well, an egg)
They really do not move

If you are tryin to keep people off of the area, you could go with volcanic rock. My dog absolutely hates to walk on it (he stomps through the adjoining planter bed when he can) and it is actually uncomfortable to walk on with flip flops.

Keep in mind that names vary from region to region, so stuff in your area may be called something else.

 

[zimdogg]

We have larger river rock along our landscaping too. Works well.

 

[kimkats]

LOVE that look!!!

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Since I have an AG pool I can't add to it's use around IG pools but here's my observations with rocks/pebbles around my last AG pool.

We had a mixture of pebbles and rocks up to about 2 inches and it seems that some of the larger rocks did migrate out of their designated area. I would give credit to dogs running around the pool and kicking them up, I didn't seem to find many smaller pebbles on the grass. Also, when string trimming I would sometimes kick up a rock/pebble at times.

Rocks do not equal nothing growing in them. I constantly had to either pull grass/weeds out or spray them with total vegetation killer. Yes, put a weed block fabric down but remember that stuff will also grow from the top down. I used black plastic as my weed block fabric 20 years ago and it lasted the whole time, it worked great for weed blocking but I may have started a problem with my pool rusting as it kept moisture. We are using regular weed block fabric now because of this but I would recommend the plastic if you don't need to worry about rust. Whatever is in the dirt needs light, water and air to grow and the black plastic eliminates all that but with that said I did find a whole lot of tree roots under it from trees that are at least 20 feet away from the pool.

Again being a AG pool it makes it different but we are going with pea gravel around the pool; we are doing it for economic reasons - it's relatively cheap compared to other types of rocks. It is small, rounded and looks as if it wouldn't hurt when walked on (thinking kids walking on it to get a pool toy). There are no little kids here but guests or eventual Grand Kids. We were going to use the 1"-3" river rocks but we can buy 3 bags of pea gravel to 1 bad of those rocks (buy bulk if you can!). If you plan on using the rocked area for anything, consider the use as well.

Like I said IG is much different but rocks are rocks!

 

[zimdogg]

As far as weeds are concerned, preen does a pretty good job controlling those

 

[VinnyinNJ]

As far as weeds are concerned, preen does a pretty good job controlling those

Does it last a while? I have to spray about once a month with the vegetation killer.

 

[zimdogg]

Does it last a while? I have to spray about once a month with the vegetation killer.

Yes, typically I do it once in the spring and it lasts most of the summer for me. I still get weeds here and there, but not an overwhelming amount like without preen. I go pretty heavy on the preen too though...

 

[Mdragger88]

As far as weeds are concerned, preen does a pretty good job controlling those

Love my preen! I get the big container at sams/walmart & then just buy the bags to refill.
All my flower beds are #57 washed gravel & i do preen twice a year & corner stone/round up/eraser (don’t get it on the plant’s leaves )
twice a year- no or very few weeds. I did have to use image for a Nutsedge infestation last year in one spot of the yard/flowerbeds as the others don’t take care of that.
We also use preen in our garden.

 

[zimdogg]

Netsedge sucks. I use a product called sedge ender (can get it on amazon) to spot spray around the yard and hit the occasional sedge that likes to grow in the garden too with it. It kills it within a few days.

NEVER PULL NUTSEDGE... gotta kill it from the roots and the only way to do that is spraying the leaves. Pulling nutsedge makes it come back 10x worse.