You are entertaining the idea of installing a pool at home, and now you are asking, "Where do I start?"
Maybe you know the size of the pool, if you should have a spa and have an idea of the right location.
But where can it all go wrong? And more importantly, how do you avoid mistakes?
Knowledge brings about certainty.
The common mistake
Thinking, "Landscaping goes around a pool" - No! "A pool goes into the landscaping."
So many people take advice from pool builders on the location of the pool and then ask a designer to create the landscaping around it. That's like building a garage and then asking an architect to design a house around it.
We have all heard the phrase, Failing to plan is planning to fail. Sorry for the cliche but it so true.
A designer comes first, then construction second.
Finding the Right Designer to Guide You
So, how do you find the “right” designer?
You could say:
“Someone I feel comfortable with.”
And that’s true — but personality alone isn’t enough.
Landscaping is a significant investment, and choosing the right professional is worth careful consideration.
Here are some key things to evaluate:
- Experience overall
- Experience in the style of garden you want
- Their knowledge of pools (where pipes run, coping styles, pool covers, etc)
- Knowledge of compliance and building requirements (easements, permits, regulations)
- The level of horticultural expertise you need
- Their availability during the construction phase
- Their ability to work with trusted landscapers (if they don’t build themselves)
- Proof of completed projects and reviews from happy clients
A designer’s work should exist not only on paper, but in real gardens, with real results.
What Should Your Designer Actually Be Doing?
A strong landscape designer should take what we call the “doctor approach”:
Observe. Evaluate. Offer Solutions.
That may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy for this process to go wrong.
For example:
If a designer believes every garden should be native and drought-focused, yet you love lush exotic planting, the design may miss the mark entirely — and you’ll feel disappointed.
Or, if a designer has limited experience, they may suggest ideas that lack creativity or lead the project in the wrong direction.
The best designers continually cycle through observation, evaluation, and suggestion until the garden is complete.
Observation
This means noticing things others overlook:
- A wet zone that may affect drainage
- A neighbouring property is likely to be rebuilt as a two-storey house, which will shade the garden
- Site access challenges for construction
- How the sun moves through the space
Great design starts with seeing clearly.
Evaluation
Evaluation comes through asking thoughtful questions, such as:
“When you entertain friends and family, what does that look like?”
“How many people do you host?”
“Do you gather around a fire outdoors, or prefer lounge-style seating?”
The design must match your lifestyle, not just your aesthetics.
Offering Suggestions
The designer’s role is to contribute ideas that inspire and elevate the concept.
As we often tell our clients:
“We’ll suggest things you may not love — and that’s fine. We’ll explore alternatives until it feels right.”
That collaborative process is what creates outstanding gardens.
The Key Actions in Landscape Design
To help you understand the journey, here is a simplified overview of what should happen:
- A designer should constantly ask questions and respectfully challenge ideas
- Together, you create a design brief — a written record of what matters most
- Pools, entertaining spaces, sheds, planting preferences, pet considerations
- And remember: the brief evolves as the design evolves
- A designer’s key contribution is offering ideas that enhance your vision
- Compliance and site constraints must be identified early
- Costing must be aligned with the design, so expectations stay realistic
- If design and construction are separate, the designer should coordinate closely with the landscaper
Coordination with your pool company
A landscape design starts with a Concept design. Once this has been given the nod of approval by you the client, it would be sent to the pool company to review and comment on. Any feedback can be discussed and possible design revision may occur.
Then again, once the Master Plan is complete, the design is sent to the pool company.
All if this coordination allows you to have confidence everything has been thought about. I have other blogs that give examples of how pool installation can go very wrong, but here we are talking about how to get started and the key point is, design first before even paying a deposit on your pool.
Q&A
What if I am being pressured to install the pool?
In my decades of experience, I have only seen pushy pool companies apply pressure for selfish reasons. Stand your ground and know what's best for you.
You want the pool company to say,
“Let me offer another approach here…”
That tells you they are interested in you.
That balance is what makes the collaboration successful.
What if there is no other location? Can't I just install the pool now?
Even the level of the pol is vital in most cases. If you add Paving you may allow around 50mm to cover it. If you use Honed Concrete you will allow about 100mm. These differences can make all the difference in the flow to other surfaces.
Ask yourself, "What's my rush?"
What comes first, pool installation or landscaping?
This can differ depending on the site and scope of the project. Typically, a landscaper may go in and do some site preparation work. Then the pool builder comes in after. But sometimes the excavation of the pool is the first thing to be done. You are best to liaise with the designer/landscaper on this to ensure all things are considered.
Final Thought
Landscaping your home is a major investment — not just financially, but emotionally.
The best gardens are created when your vision is respected, your lifestyle is understood, and the right professional guides the process from dream to reality.
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