Hot Tub Privacy Landscaping - How To Plan for Comfort and BeautyBy Jasmine LeClaire - www.BestSwimmingPoolShop.com

So, you've taken the plunge and bought an outdoor hot tub! You're all set for relaxing evenings...or are you? If you are going to be sipping wine and staring at the stars in your backyard oasis, then you'll undoubtedly want to create a cozy, private environment. Here are some ideas for planning your hot tub privacy landscaping.

There are plenty of shrubs, trees and plants that you can use to create a natural privacy screen between your hot tub and the rest of the world. Bamboo, for example, is a popular choice because it makes a lovely privacy screen that is not only effective but spa-like and relaxing to look at.

Bamboo comes in several varieties. You want to be sure that, if you use bamboo, you use the clumping variety. Clumping bamboo will not spread and take over your entire backyard...running bamboo, on the other hand, most definitely will. If you can only get running bamboo, don't worry. You will not end up with a backyard that looks like a jungle nightmare! You can contain running bamboo with a simple barrier that reaches at least a few feet deep into the soil.

Once you have planted bamboo, make sure you give it enough room to grow. Maintaining bamboo after that is extremely simple. All you need to do is trim out any dying or dead canes once a year, and that's it.

If bamboo is not your thing, there are other plants that will work well for privacy, and look beautiful as well. Laurel, photinia hedges and juniper will all work very well. If you want to add a fence around your hot tub area, think about adding some greenery with an evergreen hardy clematis, jasmine, wisteria or honeysuckle climbing gracefully on and around it. These will all give you an added layer of privacy, and

Hot Tub Privacy Landscaping c 2010

beautiful flowers and fragrance to go along with it.

Of course, you can also plant in containers around your hot tub. Choose plants that compliment each other with regards to their color, texture and height. The standard for container planting is to have at least one tall plant, at least one short or trailing plant, and then plants that fill in the in-between space.

You can plant trees in containers, and use them to add privacy as well as some shade. Any small tree will do...but if your climate supports it, why not plant a few fragrant citrus trees? Add some lavender bushes or other fragrant shrubs and add them as well.

Of course, don't forget about creating a view for yourself as well! Plants add privacy, but they also add beauty...and you want something beautiful to look at while you soak. Once you have chosen plants for privacy, choose flowers, plants and shrubs that compliment your hot tub area and plant then in view of your hot tub. You can add many other elements, such as lanterns, statues, bird baths and houses...really, anything that gives you pleasure to look at.

Hot tub privacy landscaping will keep your backyard intimate, and also help you create your own little piece of heaven right there at home. Have fun!

Hot Tub Privacy Landscaping c 2010