Pool Landscaping Ideas to Freshen Up Your Backyard This Summer

Thursday, June 25, 2026  |  Your Happy Dolphin Pool & Spa Team

Images are AI generated and do not depict an actual pool or Dolphin Pool & Spa location.

Your pool is the centerpiece of your backyard — but the space around it matters just as much as the water itself. A few well-chosen landscaping updates can completely transform how your yard looks and feels, turning a basic pool area into an outdoor retreat you actually want to spend time in. Whether you're starting from scratch or just looking to freshen things up, here are some of the best ways to upgrade your pool surroundings this summer — with a special look at the single upgrade that makes the biggest visual impact: lighting.

1 Privacy Plantings

Nothing ruins a relaxing afternoon by the pool like feeling like you're on display for the neighbors. Strategic plantings along the fence line or pool perimeter create a natural screen that adds both privacy and beauty. Arborvitae and ornamental grasses are popular choices in Minnesota — they're hardy, grow quickly, and stay green through most of the season. For a softer look, climbing vines on a trellis or pergola frame add texture and shade without feeling like a wall.

2 Hardscaping and Deck Updates

The deck or patio around your pool sets the tone for everything else. If your existing concrete is stained, cracked, or just looking dated, there are some relatively simple ways to refresh it without a full replacement — and in many cases, you don't need to tear anything out to do it.

For pool deck work, we refer our customers to Concrete Science in Corcoran — right here in the Twin Cities metro. They're the team we trust, and have worked alongside for years through both Dolphin Pool & Spa and Minnesota Pools. They specialize in residential pool decks and know exactly what it takes to build and resurface concrete that holds up to Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles, pool chemicals, and heavy summer foot traffic.

Concrete Science handles everything from full new pool deck installations to resurfacing aging concrete with decorative finishes, stamped patterns, and slip-resistant coatings. They also do cantilevered coping — a seamless poured edge that gives your pool a clean, finished look — and custom trench drains to keep water moving away from your home and landscaping. If your pool has an automatic cover, they can even build a custom border that conceals the cover mechanism and ties the whole perimeter together.

Minnesota's premier pool deck specialists — serving the Twin Cities metro from Corcoran. New installs, resurfacing, decorative finishes, cantilevered coping, and trench drains. Built to handle everything a Minnesota winter throws at it.

7545 Commerce Street, Corcoran MN 55340

(763) 420-4073 concrete-science.com

When you call, mention that Dolphin Pool & Spa sent you.

Beyond the deck itself, even smaller updates make a big difference. A pergola or shade sail over the seating area adds comfort and visual structure. A fire pit or outdoor kitchen in a defined zone near the pool creates a natural gathering spot that extends the usable season well into Minnesota's cooler fall evenings.

3 Furniture and Finishing Touches

Outdoor furniture has improved dramatically — weather-resistant materials now look and feel like indoor quality. A sectional lounge area, a shaded dining set, and a couple of chaise lounges by the water can make your pool deck feel like a resort. Add outdoor rugs, throw pillows, and a side table or two and the space feels intentional and inviting rather than just functional.

Planters with colorful annuals positioned at the entry points to your pool area are an easy, low-cost way to add life and color. Change them out each season and the space always looks fresh.

4 Lighting — The Upgrade That Changes Everything

Of all the landscaping upgrades you can make, lighting delivers the most dramatic transformation for the investment. A pool that looks ordinary during the day becomes something completely different at night when it's lit well. The right lighting extends your swim season — evening swims in a beautifully lit pool on a warm Minnesota night are hard to beat — and it creates an atmosphere that no amount of furniture or plantings can replicate on their own.

There are several layers of lighting worth thinking about:

Still Running Old Incandescent Pool Lights?

If your pool was built more than ten years ago, there's a good chance you're still running the original incandescent or halogen pool lights. They work — until they don't — but compared to what's available today, they're dim, inefficient, and limited to a single white color. When one burns out, you're often looking at a service call just to replace a bulb.

Modern LED pool lights are a completely different experience. They're significantly brighter, use a fraction of the energy, and last far longer than incandescent bulbs. But the real upgrade is color. Today's LED pool lights can cycle through the full color spectrum — deep blue, emerald green, sunset red, bright white — or run through dynamic color shows automatically. And the best ones connect directly to your smartphone.

If you're curious about what an LED upgrade would involve for your specific pool — or you've had a light go out and want to take the opportunity to upgrade while it's already being serviced — our team is the right call. We can walk you through the options, give you a realistic idea of what's involved, and handle the installation from start to finish.

Ready to Upgrade Your Pool Lighting?

If your pool lights are aging out or you're ready to see what a full-color LED upgrade looks like, give our service team a call. We'll talk through the options for your specific pool and get you set up with lights you can control right from your phone — we make pool ownership a joy!

3405 Hwy 169 N, Plymouth MN 55441  |  Mon–Thurs 8–5, Fri 8–6, Sat 8–4

Call Us Now — 763-542-9000

Your Happy Dolphin Pool & Spa Team

Serving the Twin Cities metro since 1988  |  dolphinpool-spa.com