Let's be real for a second. Most people buy an above-ground pool because they want to cool off without spending $60,000 on a buried concrete basin. But then it arrives. You set up that big blue or gray vinyl rectangle in the middle of the lawn, and suddenly your backyard looks like a construction site or a temporary camp. It’s an eyesore. I’ve seen it a thousand times. But here’s the thing: intex pool landscaping ideas don't have to involve a massive construction crew or a second mortgage. You can actually make these things look like they belong there.
It takes effort. Honestly, most "hacks" you see on Pinterest are just ways to hide the pump, which is a start, but it isn't landscaping. To make an Intex pool look high-end, you have to treat it like a permanent feature, even if you plan on taking it down in October.
The Groundwork: Why Leveling Is Your Best Friend
Before you even think about mulch or plants, you have to talk about the dirt. If your pool is off by even an inch, the water line will scream "amateur hour" to anyone looking at it. Worse, the structural integrity of a soft-sided pool like the Ultra XTR Frame depends on equal pressure. I once helped a neighbor who ignored a two-inch slope; by mid-July, the frame was bowing so hard we had to drain the whole 5,000 gallons just to keep it from collapsing.
Don't just throw sand down. Sand washes away. Use crushed stone or a solid leveling pad. Once the pool is sitting flat, that’s when the real work begins. You want to create a "border of protection." This is a gap—usually about 12 to 24 inches—between the pool wall and your grass. Why? Because weed whackers eat vinyl for breakfast. If you run your trimmer right up against the side of an Intex pool, you’re going to be patching holes by Tuesday.
Intex Pool Landscaping Ideas: Creating the Perimeter
The most common mistake is just piling mulch up against the plastic. Don't do that. Mulch holds moisture, and moisture against the metal frame of an Intex pool leads to rust, no matter how "powder-coated" they claim the poles are. Instead, use river rock or pea gravel.
Rock Borders and Drainage
River rock is the gold standard here. It looks natural, stays cool, and handles the inevitable splash-out. When kids are doing cannonballs, that water has to go somewhere. If it hits grass, you get a mud pit. If it hits a thick bed of drainage stone, it disappears.
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You can use plastic or metal edging to keep the rocks from migrating into the lawn. If you’re feeling fancy, go for Belgian block or bricks. It creates a defined line that says, "I meant for this pool to be here."
The Secret of Tropicals and Potted Plants
You want the "resort" look? You need height. But you can't plant a willow tree next to a vinyl pool; the roots will eventually puncture the bottom. This is where large containers come in.
I’m a huge fan of using oversized resin planters. They’re light enough to move but look like heavy ceramic. Fill them with:
- Hibiscus: They love the humidity near the water.
- Canna Lilies: These give you that massive, broad-leaf tropical vibe.
- Ornamental Grasses: Specifically Zebra grass or Fountain grass. They sway in the breeze and provide a bit of a privacy screen without being a solid wall.
The beauty of pots is versatility. If the pool comes down for winter, the landscaping doesn't look like a weird empty hole in your garden. You just move the pots to the patio.
Dealing with the "Ugly" Parts
The pump. The hoses. The ladder. These are the things that ruin the aesthetic. You can have the most beautiful stone border in the world, but if a tangled mess of white hoses and a humming plastic filter is sitting right there, it looks messy.
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Stealth Pump Covers
Building a small ventilated box is the move. You can use cedar slats or even leftover pressure-treated wood. Just make sure there is plenty of airflow. Pumps overheat. I’ve seen people wrap them in tarps to hide them, only to fry the motor in a week. A slatted "L" shaped screen is usually enough to hide the gear from the main viewing angle of the house while letting the machinery breathe.
Lighting Changes Everything
Night swimming is the best part of owning a pool, but Intex lights are usually... lackluster. Instead of the clip-on lights that look like flashlights, go for solar-powered globes or Edison-style string lights overhead.
If you string lights from the house to a few 4x4 posts set in planters around the pool, you create an "outdoor room" feel. It draws the eye up and away from the 사실 (fact) that the pool is a portable unit.
The Hybrid Deck Approach
If you really want to commit to intex pool landscaping ideas, you have to talk about wood. You don't need a full wrap-around deck. That’s expensive and, frankly, a pain to permit in many townships.
Instead, build a "landing deck." This is a small, 4x8 or 8x8 platform that sits flush with the top of the pool rail.
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- It gives you a place to sit and watch the kids.
- It covers the ladder, which is usually the ugliest part of the kit.
- It creates a "transition zone" so you aren't dragging grass and dirt into the water on your feet.
A small deck, combined with some surrounding gravel and maybe a few tall Arborvitae for privacy, makes the pool feel integrated. It looks like a "semi-inground" installation, which is the holy grail of above-ground aesthetics.
What Most People Get Wrong About Plants
Avoid anything that sheds. This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people plant Lavender or Bottlebrush right next to the water. The wind blows, the flowers fall, and suddenly your skimmer basket is clogged and your pH is crashing because of decaying organic matter.
Stick to "clean" plants. Evergreens are great. Boxwoods are classic. If you want color, use perennials that keep their petals tight. And for the love of all things holy, keep the mulch back. If wood chips get in the pool, they stain the vinyl. It’s a nightmare to scrub out.
Maintenance Reality Check
Let's talk honestly about salt water. A lot of Intex owners upgrade to the saltwater system because it’s easier on the skin. It’s great. But salt is corrosive. If you have metal furniture or certain types of stone (like soft limestone) as part of your landscaping, the splash-out will eat it over time.
If you go salt, stick to granite, river rock, or high-quality composite decking. Avoid cheap wrought iron nearby unless you like the "rusty shipwreck" aesthetic.
Actionable Steps to Start Today
If you’re staring at a bare pool in a patch of dirt, don't panic. You don't have to do it all at once.
- Phase 1: Dig out a 2-foot ring around the pool. Lay down heavy-duty landscape fabric (the cheap stuff is useless, go for the felt-like professional grade).
- Phase 2: Fill that ring with 3 inches of smooth river rock. This immediately stops the "mud zone" and protects the pool walls.
- Phase 3: Buy three large, identical planters. Put them in a cluster near the ladder. Plant something tall and green.
- Phase 4: Add lighting. Solar-powered path lights around the rock border or string lights above.
By the time you hit Phase 4, the "cheap" pool won't look cheap anymore. It’ll look like a deliberate, designed part of your home. You’ve turned a temporary purchase into a permanent sanctuary. That's the real goal. Stop thinking of it as a "pop-up" and start treating it like a feature. Your backyard—and your property value—will thank you.