PLANNING TIPS

✚ Poolside garden beds should be wide enough for screening plants if required. A tall hedge needs a width of 600mm; add 300mm for a low edging plant in front. If the bed’s narrow, consider covering the fence behind it with a climber.

Allow for wide coping or paving between a hedge and the pool so you have room for pruning. Make sure there’s enough space to place a ladder, and to avoid clippings falling straight into the water. Ensure poolside beds are a little lower than the coping or paving so that mulch and soil won’t spill into the water. Or install raised beds to prevent pool water contaminating the surrounding soil.