Poolscaping: Gardening and Landscaping Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa [Paperback]

Catriona Tudor Erler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2003

Bare, stark swimming pools - those rectangular concrete holes in the ground surrounded by a chain-link fence - are going the way of the dinosaurs. Pool owners (and there are 7 million of them across North America) have begun to see the pool and the area around it as an outdoor living space, a place for entertaining a crowd or relaxing alone. In response to this hot, new trend, gardener and landscape designer Catriona Tudor Erler has written POOLSCAPING, a one-of-a-kind handbook overflowing with inspiring ideas and practical advice on how to make your swimming pool the lovely, welcoming centerpiece of your property.

Erler takes readers step by step through the poolscaping process, whether starting from scratch or renovating an existing pool. She begins with choosing the best location for the pool and designing (or refurbishing) the deck and edging that will surround it. She presents a host of ideas for dramatic pool lighting, including underwater options. The fencing chapter addresses choosing styles as well as safety issues and even how to disguise a fence with plantings.

Erler explores design options for building or renovating a spa adjacent to the pool, as well as how to incorporate furnishings, pergolas, and pool houses into the poolscape. A plant directory features the best poolside plants, with a focus on varieties of flowers, vines, and shrubs that are low maintenance and look attractive throughout the pool season. Erler also offers ideas for outstanding poolside planters and containers for bringing greenery and color right up to the pool.

Illustrated with beautiful full-color photographs of outstanding poolscapes, this unique guide demonstrates how any pool owner can transform the pool area into the showpiece of the neighborhood.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Diving into Catriona Tudor Erler’s book on dressing up your pool is cool.”

—Arizona Republic

 

“A swimming pool can be more than a big blue hole … Poolscaping helps readers turn it into a retreat.”

— Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

“ … a wealth of ideas on how to make the swimming pool a backyard showpiece.”

— Phoenix Home & Garden

 

“… encourages an appealing integration of water and land.”

— Publishers Weekly

 

“Excellent photographs give the book a can’t-put-it-down quality.”

— Washington Post

 

“… rich with photos for inspiration, but there are plenty of specifics, such as plant recommendations, how-to instructions and tips for dealing with challenges.”

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

“[T]his book will inspire you to create a design that meets your needs for both practicality and beauty.” — The American Gardener

 

“From the latest trends to advice on plantings, waterfalls and fountains, Poolscaping will help add some splash to your summer.”

— Maryland Washington Virginia Home & Design

 

Review

“Diving into Catriona Tudor Erler’s book on dressing up your pool is cool.”

—Arizona Republic

 

“A swimming pool can be more than a big blue hole … Poolscaping helps readers turn it into a retreat.”

— Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

“ … a wealth of ideas on how to make the swimming pool a backyard showpiece.”

— Phoenix Home & Garden

 

“… encourages an appealing integration of water and land.”

— Publishers Weekly

 

“Excellent photographs give the book a can’t-put-it-down quality.”

— Washington Post

 

“… rich with photos for inspiration, but there are plenty of specifics, such as plant recommendations, how-to instructions and tips for dealing with challenges.”

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

“[T]his book will inspire you to create a design that meets your needs for both practicality and beauty.” — The American Gardener

 

“From the latest trends to advice on plantings, waterfalls and fountains, Poolscaping will help add some splash to your summer.”

— Maryland Washington Virginia Home & Design

  --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; First edition. edition (April 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580173853
• ISBN-13: 978-1580173858
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Catriona Tudor Erler is an internationally recognized garden writer, photographer, and speaker. She is the author of seven garden books as well as numerous articles for publications such as Architectural Digest and Southern Accents. Her photographs have been published in books, magazines, and newspapers in both the United States and Great Britain. She also specializes in adapting British gardening books for American audiences, editing them to reflect the American vernacular, climate zones, and plant selections. Catriona gardens with her husband and twin sons in Vienna, Virginia. A former resident of San Diego, California, she has extensive gardening experience on both coasts of the United States, including growing in tropical and subtropical regions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Professional and to the point, October 14, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Poolscaping: Gardening and Landscaping Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa (Paperback)

The writer starts out with "Swimming pools have come a long way from the turquoise water holes surrounded by stark paving. Increasingly pools are being integrated into the design of the house and garden..."

I'm happy to see a book on this topic, especially one written by an accomplished writer and photographer. Many garden swimming pools stand out like a sore thumb - a harsh rectangle of Hollywood blue water with cold tile edges. They're lovely and cool in hot weather, but UGLY. Anything that helps to change or disguise this is all good.

The writer has many suggestions for doing just this. She addresses in depth topics such as decking, enclosures, structures, furniture and plantings. She has researched and offers suggestions for problems such as awkward rocky sites and the need to have an enclosure around the pool that doesn't block the view or make the place look like a prison.

It was good to see a generous number of pages given to plants and plantings - everything from container planting to landscaping the entire site. The writer also focuses on planning ahead when installing a pool or landscaping around it, and on matters relating to the budget. Both are very important and often overlooked..

The writer obviously has an encyclopedic knowledge of her topic and her writing is crisp and to-the-point. She understands the issues facing people who want to integrate their pool into their garden and addresses them directly. Her photographs illustrate her points with relevance and clarity. I'd recommend this book to anyone trying to add some style and class to a garden with a swimming pool.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pool Scaping, May 22, 2003

By 

Jamie R. Manning (Avondale, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Poolscaping: Gardening and Landscaping Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa (Paperback)

This book is a must have! It is beautifully illustrated and very informative. If you own a pool or are thinking about getting one this book is a great investment. It covers everything from choosing a design for your pool to plants and lighting. The pictures are spectacular! I Preordered this book and I'm glad I did. It was worth the wait.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Professional and to the point, October 14, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Poolscaping: Gardening and Landscaping Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa (Paperback)

The writer starts out with "Swimming pools have come a long way from the turquoise water holes surrounded by stark paving. Increasingly pools are being integrated into the design of the house and garden..."

I'm happy to see a book on this topic, especially one written by an accomplished writer and photographer. Many garden swimming pools stand out like a sore thumb - a harsh rectangle of Hollywood blue water with cold tile edges. They're lovely and cool in hot weather, but UGLY. Anything that helps to change or disguise this is all good.

The writer has many suggestions for doing just this. She addresses in depth topics such as decking, enclosures, structures, furniture and plantings. She has researched and offers suggestions for problems such as awkward rocky sites and the need to have an enclosure around the pool that doesn't block the view or make the place look like a prison.

It was good to see a generous number of pages given to plants and plantings - everything from container planting to landscaping the entire site. The writer also focuses on planning ahead when installing a pool or landscaping around it, and on matters relating to the budget. Both are very important and often overlooked.

The writer obviously has an encyclopedic knowledge of her topic and her writing is crisp and to-the-point. She understands the issues facing people who want to integrate their pool into their garden and addresses them directly. Her photographs illustrate her points with relevance and clarity. I'd recommend this book to anyone trying to add some style and class to a garden with a swimming pool.