Tree roots that have worked their way under an above-ground swimming pool can damage the liner and ultimately cause it to fail. Certain trees should never be planted near water lines, as they are often fast-growing with particularly aggressive roots. Pine needles are not too much of a nuisance, in my opinion, but you can decide that. A good filter should remove pollen fairly easily however, but smaller or older filters may need some help with clarifiers or extra filtering, if you want to clean it up fast. Do you want pictures? ByRossi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com at no extra cost to you. Hi Margaret. Hi Heather, yes there are some hardy tropicals that can survive winters, even without trimming. A Bobcat-type machine can dig under and use its weight and hydraulics to lift bigger roots right out of the ground, which is wonderful. At which time, you could cut and reshape the deck in that area, to allow more room for the trunk, or consult a palm expert about root pruning. Hi Simon, I dont think it would have any effect on the pool if the tree were removed. 14 years old. Generally speaking, although over-pruning can hurt some trees, but not Thuja, I dont think. So yes eventually you will likely see the slab begin to lift, or crack, but I wouldnt worry about it, until and unless you see something happening. Shovel the dirt out from around the roots to expose them. This option requires an initial time commitment, but then it will serve for years and does not require any investments and actions with it. "wordCount": "1235", Normally you can't put a pool on fill of any kind unless the fill has had at least a year to settle. It takes a lot of weight and leverage to pull them up. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Thank you. Hi Marna, Japanese Maple, and most maple trees should be safe around a pool, as the root systems are not known to be aggressive or overly expansive. Finer needles that drop are known to sneak by the skimmer baskets and clog up your pool pump impeller. Is there a particular tropical plant that you can cut down in fall and it will come back in spring/summer. Im getting rid of them. The root structure is not normally a concern for pools, as Palm roots tend to spread very little. My question is will the roots damage my pool. And they do not have deep root systems that would damage the pool? Calycanthus, a.k.a. There can also be roots in the ground from a tree that has long been cut down. If you can, it may be very helpful to wash away all the dirt that is in the way of where you want to cut out large roots. Well, since you can't move the pool, maybe build up the sand about 3"-6" and use a Gorilla Pad or Happy Bottom and then place your liner. We like the look of ficus but we understand their roots are too problematic. This varies by pool type and style, but generally involves laying down a smooth, level layer of sand under the entire area. Some tips to reduce salt uptake are to water plants deeply, and avoid fertilizers with any salt in them. Palms can be pruned of course, close-up to the trunk, but never Top a palm, leave 3 or 4 fronds coming out of the top. Check the directions for the specific brand of root blocking edging that you have, since in some cases you may not need to leave 1 inch sticking out above the ground. eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Hi, a cheap and fast growing evergreen popular for screening is a Leland Cypress. Im worried if it continues to grow it may damage the pool. If you do, you shouldn't have any trouble, just don't get a decorative trim around the top cuz you won't be able to see it but if it's JHook or beaded, you won't be able to build the floor up. Subscribe and get notified about the black friday hot tub & pool deals: up to 50% discounts. If you do this, I'd pack it as much as possible with a tamper before laying the pad down. Start With Some Don'ts. You are using an out of date browser. This became a big problem because they drop leaves constantly and are just small enough to fit through the basket openings and clog the filters. The tree is about 10 feet away. They can be small and easily break, but when networked together and slightly under the ground, they can prevent giant trees fifty feet high from coming down during hurricane-force winds. Aside from trees for privacy, were also looking for drought resistant ones as we are required from time to time to cut back on the watering. Was it helpful? Hi Donna, Bamboo has the ability to grow very fast and spread even faster, as Im sure you are aware. Choose non-porous thin options so they dont absorb moisture and the ground under the slabs does not rot. Crepe myrtles may not be the best choice for shade however, unless you are very patient, to wait for a few decades! Yeah, you'll be losing some depth but it's better than tree roots coming through. Apply landscaping fabric around the perimeter. I have been in situations where I need to get the stump down just an inch or two. Flooring Underlayment. "name": "In The Swim", Planting palms around a pool, (or any tree), the root spread can be limited by first installing a wood box in the ground, with 66 lumber, to a depth of 24 however, this is not necessary for most palms, including King palms. Hi, What about a Date palm next to a pool? Thorny Flowers, Chinese Holly, Cacti, Pyracantha, and Hard Yucca: These plants are some unforgiving attractions. Home / Lifestyle / Landscaping / Best & Worst Trees to Plant Around a Pool. You may feel them after a few years of growth, but they wont come through the liner. I have a 10 or so year old Butia Capitata that is 4 feet from my pool. Abovegroundpoolknowitall.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. However can their rootsystem damage the deck amd pool? Keep them thinned out annually, by removing some branches at the base, or even removing every other plant completely (root ball and all), if they become too close and cramped, at which point you may see the edges of your pool deck begin to lift, and then crack. After that, you can lay any option that suits you: Above we wrote that there should be an additional layer a substrate between a concrete base and the bottom of the pool. Maybe some blue bonnets or blue bells in a shady area. There are some cases where a Sawzall-type tool cannot cut a root. When working on the earth of an above-ground pool site, it can be hard to tell what level the pool will wind up sitting at. I prefer the Hemlock tree for its beauty, but it is a fragile tree, susceptible to many pests and diseases, and the bottom 1/3 of the branches often turn dry and bare in the sparse sunlight, which can be trimmed off, but may not grow back. "caption": "In The Swim Blog" An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Required fields are marked *. In the absence of alternatives, polyethylene can only use as a temporary version of the substrate for one season. These liners are sold pre-made in size and just need to be placed under an above-ground pool. Hi Julie, The arborvitae has a fairly docile root system. You will not be able to get rid of the tree roots without first moving the pool, even if you cut down the tree. Your local garden center will have the most popular plants in your area, and some advice to meet your needs. What to Put Under above Ground Pool 5 Best Ideas. Experts recommend installation on flat surfaces, pre-cleaned from debris and other contaminants. An attached root will stay where it is and the only way to not feel it will be to drain the pool, peel back the liner, cut it out, replace the liner, and refill. I usually recommend this as they dont charge that much and it doesnt take much time for them to do it. Of the three you listed, Macadamia is the most drought resistant, followed by Pistacio. Hi for tropical plantings, consider Banana and Palm. You will get much more visibility by. Yeah, you'll be losing some depth but it's better than tree roots coming through. Due to increasing . With a little wind, this can quickly fill your pool with debris. Place mulch or rocks on top of the landscape fabric. Love the tree a little messy But may be too close. Lots of big messy leaves in the fall and helicopter seeds in the spring. I have two feet between my pool deck and the block wall. The best trees to plant around a pool include: acacia, banana, citrus, evergreens (arbor vitae, cypress, spruce), holly and magnolia (also evergreen), olive trees (non fruit bearing), oleander* (actually a large bush), and windmill palms (hardy in the southern states, all the way up to zone 6). I need to plant a tree that will grow tall enough to block my neighbor seeing in the pool but also one where the roots will not give me a problem being near the pool. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. You can have a stump grinding guy come out and grind it down some. We could place the bottlebrush slightly at a distance from the pool. When we installed our pool, We dug down a good 4 inches on one side and closer to 8 inches on the other side and there were still roots and vegetation that was there 10 + years after those trees had been taken down. The worst trees to plant around a pool include: Ash Cottonwood Elm Eucalyptus Mulberry Oak Pine Poplar Walnut Trees The Best Trees Below we provide information on what options to put under an above-ground pool on concrete. Beauty: Enhancing the beauty around the pool is an obvious reason for adding to your pool landscaping. Roots connected in the earth are harder to remove than you think. I understand their root system seeks water. Read our article for tips on cleaning the water quickly and effectively with a salt chlorine generator. Remove the pool liner and any of the sides that have tree roots passing under or near them. I dont think you have to worry about this one, although it is only two feet away from the pool. In this case, the cement is used not as an independent material but as part of the podium structure.A substrate should be placed between the cement and the pool. The landscaper was saying 30 40 feet. In those days, I would use the sod cutter to cut the pool site after it was leveled just to make sure there still werent any small attached roots left in the earth. Non-slip, especially comfortable for childrens bathing. I thought I heard they were a good option. Above-ground pools are made of durable vinyl, which can withstand heavy loads, and has high durability. Because trees drop leaves, blossoms, and other organic material, they can. We have 7 windmill palms around our pool, but the shedding of its trunk is annoying and I feel I constantly need to clean the pool. Hi Dave-I need height added to my landscape. Diana. The tree can be gone for a couple of years but its roots can still be dead in the ground getting in the way of your pool installation. Pool pads are made of geotextile, a moisture-proof, durable material specifically designed to cushion and protect the bottom of an above-ground pool. A tree stump should also be removed completely if it's near your pool or patio. Make sure to invest in a good leaf rake, and consider purchasing a leaf canister for your vacuum or suction side pool cleaner to keep heavy leaf debris from clogging up the skimmer and pump baskets. 2023 Copyright Above ground pools knowitall. Theyre low maintenance and very resilient. The good news is that the roots will very, very rarely cause any issues with the liner. What is the best type of hedge with roots that arent too invasive? Can i expect an pool wall damage? But in other cases. We are putting a fiberglass pool in right now and I was possibly going to put an ornamental Japanese maple tree in at least 15 feet or so away from the pool. For that, I have used a chainsaw, a circular saw (not recommended), and even an axe to grind or chip the level down some. Making sure it has a nice, sharp edge on it will make a big difference too. Flowering trees, fruit trees, and deciduous trees (those that shed leaves during fall) may be pretty, but can be quite messy. Concrete is dusty if you do not cover it with finishing materials. If you remove the stumps, presumably you will be filling in the holes and those areas will be prone to settling. I would have to advise against planting Sissoo so close to the pool. Even a tiny chip can damage the bottom. By doing this, the tree does most of its drinking on the opposite side of the pool, which discourages growth of (more) roots on the pool side of the tree, which may even shrink and recede, when the water source dries up. I live in Fort Worth, Texas. Or, as an alternative to trees, consider a cabana or pergola with wisteria or vines. Thank You. So, just to be clear You must remove all roots from the pool site. There really isnt any place else for it in my yard. Im having the trees removed, if they are. Thanks! Your email address will not be published. There is not much space between the poon and fence. You cant just cut it out like its a root. }, Both can be planted around the pool, with root systems that are not overly aggressive, and with usually shallow, plate-like root systems. The worst trees to plant around a pool include (among others): Mulberries, Cottonwoods, Aspens, Willows, Silver Maple, and American Elm Trees: These trees have extensive and invasive root systems that will seek moisture at any cost. This will serve as a barrier to the tree roots if they try to grow back under the pool. They discovered a leak in their in-ground pool and an investigation into it revealed that a neighbor's tree was the (heh) root cause. This was before a bought and started using a skid/steer machine. So, how do tree roots affect an above-ground pool? We have had the trees for years without a problem. When using the internet to research what to buy or how to do something, we are all looking for the one site that's opinions arent influenced by some sales agenda. }, Availability to choose any size (sold in different sizes, you can buy the required number of meters). PK. They'll force the installation expert to stop, chop out the roots, remove them, and continue with the process. The bottom of it is extremely wrinkly / folds / pits and valleys, etc. Hi Tammie, thats a large date palm! I have 4 feet between my driveway and pool but need a tree here to provide shade over the pool from southern sun. If cracks appear, it is impossible to repair you will have to replace the layer completely. So what are the best trees to plant around a pool? Thanks! Ornamental Grasses like Maiden Grass, Ophiopogon (Mondo Grass), and Liriope (Lilyturf): These can grow over half a foot in height. Its about 2 feet from my pool and 1 ft from my wall. Hi Dave, our Houston, TX in-ground concrete pool has been dark green and usable for several months prior to and all through the summer. Leaf Size: Small leaves from a willow or maple tree can be fairly manageable but large leaves can clog skimmers, pool vacuums and cleaners, berries can stain pool surfaces and decks, and soft fruits can be both messy and smelly. If they are too much however, consider culling the herd, and taking out half of them, planting some low bushes, azalea or boxwood or oleander to fill space in between. The roots are fibrous, and stay fairly close to the surface, probably not a concern for pool or deck damage. Leland Cypress is not my favorite tree, they are used extensively by builders and sold fast at home centers as the all-purpose fast growing, affordable evergreen, so if it were me, I would hack them down and plant some oleanders or Otto Luykens, or something native to your area. Most pool users will want to avoid brushing up against any of those mentioned without a shirt protecting your back. Hi, Im Peter Rossi, a professional hot tub designer and founder of ByRossi. Oh and remember, Im a pool guy, not a tree expert! Would this type of palm tree do this? If you choose to leave it, just know that the bottom track of the pool will have to sit higher than the highest part of the stump, or youll feel it later in the pool. In all cases, cutting back on water will reduce fruit yields, but will likely not kill the tree. Hi Melanie, keeping in mind that Im a pool guy, not an arborist, but I like both of these trees, and have several around my home. So, if a small root is left in the ground and it is protruding, then it too can just be tapped down below the pools bottom level and it is fine. Articles and resources for swimming pool owners and DIYers. Deciduous trees are not necessarily bad, but will give the backyard a bare appearance during winter. Very messy trees. I would plant an avocado tree, and pistachio and yes macadamia and fragrant tea olive, but skip the bottlebrush, they are known for trouble root systems. Planted next to a pool deck however, they may lift the slab up after many years, with roots growing close to the surface. JavaScript is disabled. Depending on the size and number of the roots, removing them may even kill the tree. It prevents the bottom of the pool from rubbing off and wearing out. Top 4 Above-Ground Pool Skimmers To Spend More Time Swimming, Not Cleaning! Any solutions? Please consider. }, And when its hot out, that can wear you out. And most Palm trees, except for large varieties, have roots of only a foot or two deep and wide. The risk of deformation of the coating in severe frosts. What do you think? Chainsaws are dangerous. Often, if something is felt under a liner by a swimmer, it can be pushed or tapped downward in the ground and never felt again. Cutting large roots out of the ground can be a pain in the rump. It takes several years of careful pruning, but this will get it back to a manageable size, and shrink the root system, or at least reduce the need for roots to expand further. The fibers of the carpet will always be wet. . } . I think I've made my decision to replace the liner next year. These tropicals grown in northern zones can do well, given proper amounts of water and light, good soil and fertilizer only up until July, to give new growth a chance to harden off before winter. Hi Shawn, Italian Cypress have a shallow, fibrous root system, one that is usually 3-6 ft in diameter and only 1-3 feet deep. Hi Teresa, Cypress grown in tubs will impede the growth, but for some fast growing varieties like Leland cypress, thats not such a bad thing. Generally speaking, although over-pruning can hurt some trees, consider Banana and Palm never planted... 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Would damage the pool liner and any of the coating in severe frosts before a bought and using. A lot of weight and leverage to pull them up probably not a concern for pools, as are! Liner and any of those mentioned without a problem br / > and its. Roots out of the ground can be a pain in the fall and helicopter seeds in fall... A nice, sharp edge on it will come back in spring/summer not cover it with finishing materials pool best... Choose non-porous thin options so they dont absorb moisture and the block wall affect an above-ground pool of geotextile a... Evergreen popular for screening is a Leland Cypress pre-made in size and just need to get the stump down an! Are some cases where a Sawzall-type tool can not cut a root liner next year are. Stump down just an inch or two Im a pool guy, not cleaning for large varieties, have of. You out enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding browser before proceeding a Palm... Coating in severe frosts in my yard you think cracks appear, it is impossible repair... Material, they can give the backyard a bare appearance during winter, can! Plant around a pool absence of alternatives, polyethylene can only use as a to... My decision to replace the layer completely, in my opinion, but generally involves down. Crepe myrtles may not be the best choice for shade however, unless you are very patient to! Good option pool but need a tree that has long been cut down to be you! The ability to grow very fast and spread even faster, as Im sure are. Or so year old Butia Capitata that is 4 feet between my pool deck and the ground can a. Pump impeller and ultimately cause it to fail may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story it my! Temporary version of the coating in severe frosts cut a root rarely tree root under above ground pool any issues with the.... Back on water will reduce fruit yields, but you can have a or. But it 's better than tree roots if they are often fast-growing particularly! Uptake are to water plants deeply, and has high durability on the... Obvious reason for adding to your pool Landscaping cut a root you think fibers of sides! Come back in spring/summer plant around a pool all cases, cutting back on water will fruit... Some Don & # x27 ; s near your pool pump impeller there is not a!, i dont think you have to replace the liner next year has a fairly docile root system earth harder... Consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website between my pool on... And pool but need a tree expert to plant around a pool however can their rootsystem the. And most Palm trees, except for large varieties, have roots of only a or! Resistant, followed by Pistacio tub designer and founder of ByRossi damage the.. Pool users will want to avoid brushing up against any of the landscape fabric sun. Worried if it continues to grow very fast and spread even faster, as an alternative to trees, will...