Top 3 Most Popular Poolside Evergreen Trees in Northwest Indiana

Landscape photo taken of a portion of a concrete pool patio in a backyard. The patio extends at an angle from the bottom left corner of the image to the upper right quarter of the image before extending right to the end of the image. At the bottom of the image is a thin rock bed against the edge of concrete that drops down to the pool patio via retaining wall on the left. A blue, rectangular inground pool can be seen on the left side of the image cut off by the edge. Small evergreen trees line the length side of the patio behind the retaining wall. The background is comprised of grass and tall, thick trees.

A great backyard design means different things for different homeowners. Some want a wide-open space with accented features. Some want a private space. Some homeowners desire an open, yet private space for hosting parties, family, friends, and more.

Here in Northwest Indiana, dream backyard designs often feature an inground pool. These various themes and appearances provide homeowners a lot to choose from when adding features around their pool. One of the most popular features we see added around pools is evergreen trees.

When you hear “evergreen trees,” you may imagine some of the trees that we’re going to talk about in this article. Evergreens are a classic and iconic choice for backyard landscaping and poolside privacy, but not every evergreen is ideal around pools.

The best poolside evergreens are the trees that provide privacy whilst combining beauty with functional growth patterns. A good evergreen should not overshadow your pool or make pool maintenance more difficult by unloading leaves and debris into it. Furthermore, evergreens in Northwest Indiana must withstand the changing seasons, freeze-thaw cycles, and more.

Evergreens are one of the most sought-after backyard additions we at Royal Pools G2 Landscaping love planting around pools every year. Over the past few seasons, three evergreens have stood out as favorites: Emerald Green Arborvitae, Norway Spruce, and Columnar Juniper. In this article, we’ll break down what makes these evergreens good options for backyard designs and poolside privacy. Let’s dive in.

1. Emerald Green Arborvitae

Landscape photo of the edge of a yard featuring multiple trees pressed against a black fence atop a mulch bed. The top of a concrete slab can be seen at the bottom of the photo.

Behold, the Emerald Green Arborvitae. Also known as the most popular poolside evergreen here in Northwest Indiana.

Why It Works Around Pools

There are a few different species of arborvitae, and many different types of arborvitae for backyards. Emerald greens are a homeowner’s favorite due to their uniform, consistent shape, making them perfect for yards of all sizes.

Emerald green arborvitaes, unlike many evergreens and backyard trees, won’t drop leaves and debris into your pool. They also provide top-notch wind blockage and require little maintenance. Just water them weekly, apply new mulch to the soil after winter, and remove any dead leaves or needle buildup near the trunk whenever possible.

Growth Rate and Size

Most Emerald Green Arborvitae trees reach anywhere between:

  • 10 – 15 feet tall
  • 3 – 4 feet wide

Be sure to provide space between your arborvitaes to allow them to blossom fully. Plant emerald green arborvitaes at least 30 – 48 inches apart.

2. Norway Spruce

Attention homeowners seeking a larger backyard evergreen. Allow us to introduce you to the Norway Spruce.

Norway spruces are another iconic backyard evergreen choice whose popularity holds strong to this day.

Why Homeowners Love Norway Spruce

Norway spruces provide premium wind-stoppage and privacy. They also grow very fast, adding about three feet per year once established. Furthermore, once established, these evergreens will live for decades.

Growth Rate and Size

As we said, Norway spruces are large. Quite large, in fact. A mature Norway Spruce can reach anywhere between:

  • 50 – 75 feet tall
  • 30 – 50 feet wide

Norway Spruces are best for spacious backyards and homeowners looking for natural privacy and wind-blockage without the need for fencing.

3. Columnar Juniper

Many homeowners throughout Northwest Indiana are interested in adding elegance and sleek contemporary design to their backyards. Adding an inground pool can help with this. Surrounding the pool with Columnar Junipers helps even more.

Why Columnar Juniper Works Around Pools

Like arborvitaes, Columnar Junipers provide privacy without overwhelming the rest of your backyard design. Their long, oval form is highly adaptable to classic backyards and modern backyard designs in which clean lines and minimalism are the goal.

Because they produce very little debris, Columnar Junipers are highly desirable to pool owners looking for as little maintenance as possible.

Growth Rate and Size

Depending on the exact type of Juniper you get (Spartan, Blue Arrow, Skyrocket), they typically grow to:

  • 15 feet tall
  • 5 – 8 feet wide

This makes them a fantastic option for homeowners who need evergreen trees for privacy in their backyard.

Choosing the Right Evergreen Trees for Your Pool

As you now know, different types of evergreen trees provide different benefits. The right evergreen for you will depend on your overall backyard design, the size of your yard, and most importantly: how much privacy you’re looking for.

Go with Emerald Green Arborvitae If:

  • You want a formal privacy hedge
  • Your yard is smaller
  • You prefer low-maintenance landscaping
  • You want quick visual impact

Choose Norway Spruce If:

  • You have a larger property
  • You need wind protection
  • You want a natural evergreen screen
  • Long-term privacy is your goal

Pick Columnar Juniper If:

  • You have limited space
  • You prefer a modern landscape style
  • You want vertical accents
  • You want minimal pool debris

Conclusion

There you have it, guys. Here at Royal Pools G2 Landscaping, building dream backyard designs is our pride and joy. We understand that the landscaping around the pool is just as important as the pool itself.

Whether you choose to add evergreen trees to your backyard design is up to you. We just wanted to provide you with some of the best options for evergreen privacy trees. If you are interested in backyard evergreens, our landscaping team is here to help bring your vision to life.

Whether you’re upgrading an existing backyard design or having a new inground pool installed, RPG2 is here to help you find which evergreen tree will enhance your pool and outdoor space. From arborvitaes to spruces to junipers, these landscaping additions can completely transform your backyard. It’s just up to you to choose which.

Check out the articles below for more backyard design landscaping ideas. Dive into our learning hub at the top of our page for more educational articles and videos on all things pools, concrete, and landscaping. Thanks for reading. Have a great day.

Top 3 Backyard Features to Pair With Inground Pools

PVC vs. Wood vs. Composite: Pros and Cons of the Three Most Popular Deck Materials

Brick Pavers vs Concrete: Which is Best for Your Backyard?

Written by Logan Edgemon