layering

Among all the ways there are to achieve great looks with backyard poolscapes, says Keith Monk, there’s one approach that probably deserves more attention than it gets: artificial rockwork. Here’s a look at why he thinks it’s one of the overlooked keys to turning ordinary pools into extraordinary watershapes.

Poolside Panache

When a backyard has a swimming pool, homeowners generally want their watershape to be a key visual component in the overall composition. Too often, however - and this is particularly true of many of the older ones I see - the pool is unexciting both on its own and as part of the landscape. That's definitely not the style these days. Homeowners either want to make a statement by having a pool that is a visual knockout complete with big rocks and grottos and waterfalls; or they want it to play a more understated role but be a major part of a