A pool looks unfinished until the yard around it is done. Landscaping also decides how clean your pool stays, how hot the yard feels and where the water goes when the monsoon hits. We plan turf, plants and irrigation in the same 3D design as the pool, then our crew builds them with the deck and walls.
Sofia B. described her project in her Google review: “We redid our entire yard from turf, travertine, plants and irrigation, the pool, waterfall, heater and salt system.” That is the kind of whole-yard job this page is about.
Arizona backyard pool landscaping ideas that work
The best pool yards in Tucson mix a few surfaces, each where it does the most good.
| Surface | Where it works best | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Travertine or pavers | Around the pool, main walkways, patio | Slope away from the pool; see our pool decks |
| Artificial turf | Play areas, lounging zones, between paver pads | Afternoon heat, drainage base, edge details |
| Desert plant beds | Along walls, corners and the edges of the yard | Low litter, low water, drip irrigation |
| Decomposed granite or rock | Side yards, around equipment, low-traffic areas | Keep it from washing onto the deck |
Turf strips between travertine pads, curved turf beds that follow a freeform pool, and plant beds along a raised wall are all popular in Tucson yards. We show each option in 3D, and you can walk through it in VR before anything is installed.
Artificial turf around a pool in Tucson
Turf gives kids and dogs a soft, green place to play without a lawn’s water use. A few things matter in the desert:
Heat. Turf in full summer sun gets hot. We place turf where it picks up afternoon shade when we can, keep travertine or pavers along the paths people walk barefoot, and talk through turf product options during design.
Base and drainage. Turf is only as good as what is under it. We prepare and compact a base that lets water drain through and away from the pool, instead of pooling under the turf.
Edges. Where turf meets travertine or pavers, a clean edge keeps it from lifting and keeps infill out of the pool. We usually keep a band of deck between the water’s edge and the turf.
Desert-friendly, low-litter plants near a pool
Plants close to the pool should handle reflected heat from the water and deck, need little water, and drop very little. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s guide to poolside landscapes gives a few useful rules we follow:
- Choose low-litter plants, or ones that drop leaves all at once instead of all year. Steady leaf drop ends up in the pool and clogs equipment.
- Pick showy-flowered plants. They tend to be pollinated by animals, not wind, so they are cleaner and less likely to cause allergies.
- Use cacti and succulents, but plant them far enough from walkways that nobody brushes against spines.
- Put plants with some seasonal litter downwind of the pool.
- Keep palms trimmed and remove flowers before seeds set.
Plants on that guide’s poolside list include Texas sage, autumn sage, fairy duster, desert ruellia, chuparosa and globe mallow, along with many cacti and succulents. The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) also keeps a searchable list of low-water desert plants. We help pick plants based on your sun, space and how much shade you want later.
Drainage away from the pool
Water should always move away from the pool and the house. During design we set grades so the deck slopes away from the water, turf and plant beds drain toward the yard’s low points, and monsoon runoff does not carry dirt and rock onto the deck or into the pool. This matters even more in yards with block walls, slopes or raised walls, where water can get trapped.
Irrigation that stays off the deck and out of the pool
Spray heads near a pool waste water, leave mineral spots on travertine and tile, and can push dirt and fertilizer into the pool. We put plant beds on drip irrigation zones, keep emitters away from the deck edge, and set up zones so trees, shrubs and pots each get the right amount of water. Before we finish, we show you the controller and what each zone waters.
What you get with Meraki
- One design for the pool, deck, walls and landscape, in 3D with a VR walkthrough
- Our own crew and heavy equipment for grading, decks and hardscape
- A written, line-item quote with turf, plants and irrigation broken out
- Family owners on the job, licensed under AZ ROC #342505 and #352797
Note that we design and install. We do not offer landscape maintenance or pool service.
What drives the cost?
We keep dollar figures off this page. Cost depends on the square footage of turf, how much grading and base work is needed, the number and size of plants, how many irrigation zones you need, access to the yard and how much hardscape is involved. Our pool cost guide explains how landscaping fits into a full project, and our financing page covers options.
Pair it with your pool project
Landscaping goes best at the end of a new pool build or pool remodel, when the deck and walls are already in. For material ideas, see our post on decking materials that beat the heat.
Where we work
We install pool landscaping in Tucson, the Catalina Foothills, Marana (Gladden Farms, Dove Mountain and Continental Ranch), Oro Valley, Vail and Rita Ranch, Sahuarita, Green Valley, SaddleBrooke and Rio Rico.
Finish your backyard with us
Ready to turn dirt into a yard you want to sit in? Contact us or call (520) 342-8335 for a free quote and 3D design.
