Step 1
Walk it and design it
On the site visit we set the routes from the house, gate, pool edge, spa, seating and equipment, and the grade and drainage that keep the deck dry. The design accounts for all of it before a paver is ordered.
Poolside Landscapes in Central Ohio
Pool decks, patios, walls, planting and lighting around pools and spas in Central Ohio.
The landscape around the water
The backyard around the pool
We design and build the landscape around pools and spas for homes in Columbus and Central Ohio. That covers the pool deck and steps, the walls and planting, and the kitchen, fireplace, shade and lighting that make the yard usable from morning until late evening. We do not install the pool itself. We design the backyard around it, coordinate with the pool contractor and build everything else.
Poolside landscape planning in Central Ohio
Most pool yards work or fail on a handful of details. The deck needs to be wide enough for chairs with a clear walk still left around the water, and pitched so splash drains away from the pool and the house. The surface should stay comfortable underfoot on a hot July afternoon.
Privacy and evening use matter just as much. Evergreen screening or a fence can close the yard off from the neighbors, and low-voltage lighting on the steps and deck edges makes the space safe to use after sunset. Peabody has built poolside landscapes in Central Ohio since 1982.
How We Build It
The whole backyard, planned together
When the deck, planting and lighting are designed together, the wiring, drains and gas lines go in once and in the right place, rather than being cut in after the concrete is poured.
You get the full scope in writing before work starts, including the order of the work and how it fits around the pool contractor's schedule.
Step 2
Build from the written scope
Splash, runoff, patio slope, wall edges and drains are in the scope of work before the crew starts, and normally the same crew stays from the first day to the last, with the site cleaned every day.
Step 3
Walk it before it is done
Dining, lounge, fire, shade and spa access each get their own room. Before the job is called finished we walk it with you and finish whatever is left.
Poolside Landscapes
Poolside and Spa Area Gallery
Pool decks, terraces, planting and outdoor rooms from Peabody projects across Central Ohio.
What We Plan For
- Walking clearances around the pool or spa edge
- Structural support, steps, and service access for hot tubs and spa areas
- Furniture zones, dining space, fire features, and covered seating
- Drainage away from the water, house, and patio joints
- Planting that handles sun, reflected heat, splash, and maintenance access
- Shade, privacy, fencing, gates, steps, and code requirements
- Lighting on the steps, wall edges and the walk back to the house at night
Stone, Paver and Planting Options
- Concrete pavers, natural stone paving, large-format pool deck pavers, and pool coping
- Retaining wall block, boulders, stone piers, and seat walls
- Sun-tolerant planting, ornamental grasses, evergreens, and screening plants
- Pergolas, pavilions, fire features, kitchens, and low-voltage lighting
- Drainage stone, pipe, catch basins, edge restraint, and cleanout access
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I bring in a landscape designer for a new pool?
Before the pool is dug, if you can. Deck size, grade, drainage, fencing, lighting and utility routes all depend on where the pool sits, and they are easier to plan together than to fix after.
What plants work best around a pool?
Plants that handle heat and reflected sun and drop very little into the water. Ornamental grasses, evergreens and tough perennials work well when they are set back from the edge. We avoid trees and shrubs that shed leaves, berries or needles.
Does a pool need a fence in Central Ohio?
In most communities, yes. Height, gate hardware and self-closing requirements vary by municipality, so we confirm the local rules during design and build the fence as part of the landscape.
Do you build the pool itself?
No. We design and build the landscape around the pool, including the patios, walls, planting, lighting, shade structures and outdoor kitchens, and we work with the pool builder when a project needs both.
What should be planned before pool construction starts?
Access for the pool builder's equipment, the finished grade and drainage, the deck and patio layout, where the pool equipment will be screened, the fence and the lighting. Those decisions shape the whole backyard, so they are easier to settle before the pool goes in.
Can pool landscaping be added after the pool is in?
Yes. We often come in after pool installation to finish patios, planting, walls, lighting, and outdoor living areas around the water.
Built Work
Poolside Landscapes in Finished Projects
Peabody projects in Central Ohio where this work is part of the whole landscape.
Powell, OH
Formal Estate Grounds
Formal estate grounds in Powell, Ohio with brick walks, stone walls, gate transitions, lawn panels, a pool edge, and seasonal containers.
View Project
Blacklick, OH
Pool and Fire Feature
Poolside outdoor living in Blacklick, Ohio, with layered hardscape, planting, fire features, and lighting for evening use around the pool.
View Project
Dublin, OH
Pool Deck and Pool House
A residential pool estate with a paver pool deck, pool house, natural stone walls, layered planting, and seasonal color.
View ProjectRequest a poolside landscape consultation
Tell us about the pool and the yard around it. We will get back to you within 48 hours to set up a time to look at it together.