Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Landscaping and Design

Why Dirt Against an Above-Ground Pool Is a Bad Idea

Placing soil against an above-ground pool wall traps moisture, rots wooden supports, and encourages erosion from splashing. The pool is designed to be freestanding. If a level surface is desired, build a wood or composite deck at the pool rim height. This provides drainage, access, and a clean edge. When the pool is winterized, the deck remains; no extra soil to relocate.

Landscaping and Design: Mud Daubers: Gentle Wasps That Rarely Sting; Raccoons at the Pool: Exclusion and Deterrence in Suburban Settings; Dirt Against Brick: Retaining Wall Solutions That Protect Your Foundation; Water Seeping Through Foundation Walls: Regrade, Don't Just Drain; Choosing a Tree for a Small Pool Deck Planter; Immediate Flood Mitigation for Florida Pool and Yard; Poolside Landscaping: Shade Trees, Ground Covers, and Non-Palm Tropicals; Container Plants for a Screened Pool Enclosure in Florida; Cat Palm Fungus Gnat Larvae: Overwatering Fix; Creating an Indoor Garden Pool: Tropical Plants and Year-Round Color

Garden Articles

Shallow "Veins" in Washington Lawn: Moles, Not New Pest—Gas Bombs Fail, Trapping Banned

Regular Holes in Field: Ground Squirrels or Voles?

Foundation Planting Bed Height: Soil Against Brick Walls

Yellow Globules in Potting Soil: Fertilizer Pellets, Not Insect Eggs

One-Sided Arborvitae Browning: Mite Infestation Likely

Moles and Grubs in New Jersey: Organic Solutions with Cayenne Pepper

Tiny Worms in Your Pond Filter: Friend or Foe?

Plants

Restoring Lawn Over a Former Pool Site with Clay Soil

Poolside Planting: Best Plants for Containers and Beds in Hot, Sunny Areas

Raised Beds Against Brick Walls: Real Risks vs. Myths

Kokedama: The Japanese Art of Moss Ball Gardens

The Cattail (Typha latifolia): A Versatile Wetland Plant

Windowsill Plants: Readers' Favorites

Mining Bees in Your Dirt Bank: Pollinators, Not Pests