Grand designs
A well laid out garden can transform the way you use your pool. Paul Wagland runs through the options

As a way of entertaining friends and family a swimming pool or hot tub is hard to beat, but to throw the perfect pool-side bash you'll need to go a few steps further. Even if your fingers are decidedly non-green, take the time to spruce-up the rest of the garden and you'll be rewarded with the perfect venue for partying the night away or enjoying a lazy weekend.

When planning your makeover, start with the edges of your pool and work outwards, but try and keep a single theme in mind so that the finished garden comes together as a whole. Minimalist, tropical and Mediterranean styles are particularly well matched to this kind of design, but the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

In my opinion, water should be bordered by hard landscaping almost without exception. While you may dream of jumping barefoot from the hot tub onto a soft green lawn, or of exotic plants trailing their leaves in the water as you swim, the practicalities are somewhat different. Plants tend to shed leaves, while soil and water make a messy combination to which you really don't want to expose your expensive water filtration system.

That's not to say you have few options when it comes to laying out your garden - there are hundreds of paving and decking products to choose from and if you can't do without plants then why not grow them in containers, where their growth and location can be controlled?

Many gardeners look for a balance between low maintenance and high visual
appeal, and modern garden design has grown to reflect this. A patio or deck will
obviously be fairly trouble-free, but you can minimise work elsewhere by using a light-excluding mulch to suppress weeds.

Avoid lawns, which require hours of work every week through the summer months, and choose perennial plants (which live for many years) rather than annuals (which only last for one and will soon need replacing).

Stone Me
While good quality paving can be expensive, there are few materials that work better with water; the clean, formal lines counterbalancing the changeable nature of a pool or fountain. Easy to keep clean, the right choice of stone also offers good grip to bare-footed swimmers.

A well-designed patio can extend the living space of a house into the outdoors; tailor-made for eating out and relaxing in the fresh air. The location and design is crucial to its success so, as with all large projects, it pays to take your time at the design stage. Consider how you will use the area and how often - if it's mostly for entertaining is it close enough to the kitchen and is there a direct route between the two? If you have private relaxation in mind, then can the site be overlooked by neighbours or passers-by?

If it's only for occasional use then does it disrupt your view of the existing garden from the house? Quite apart from these considerations are the more basic aspects of exposure to the elements. Take a few days to observe how long and at what times the site is in the sun, and how you will shelter it from the wind. A little patience now will pay dividends.

Hit The Deck
Timber surfaces can make a beautiful and long-lasting contribution to many gardens, and can be used in much the same way as paving to extend your living space. Building a deck is also a comparatively low-cost way of landscaping an area and will take years of abuse with only the most basic maintenance. This is not to say that you should skimp on the budget - cheap materials can lead to a cheap-looking end result so go for the best timber and fixings you can afford.

Although wood is a natural material, the uniform look of decking is far from organic. This allows you to play with the contrast between the clean lines of the deck and the more random form of surrounding planting. Allow the two to mingle by using creeping plants and overhanging branches.

Power Plant
If acres of stone and timber don't fit with your idea of a paradise garden, don't despair. Once the permanent structures are in place you can begin to add planting. Use herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint around an entertaining area and they will release their scent every time you brush past. You can even pick a few handfuls to add to your barbecue.

While it's not advisable to create flower beds too close to a pool, you can certainly use plants in containers - ideally finished with gravel or slate chippings to keep the compost in place. These will be a highly visible part of your design, so don't cut corners. Seek out pots that match the style of your garden and remember that plants will do best in larger containers.

Design Ideas
Location is the most important aspect of hard landscape design - get this right and the rest will fall into place.

Decking and paving can be made to fit any shape, but avoid very sharp angles as they cause problems with mobility.

Use balustrades to define edges and protect flower beds. Any railings around water must be well built.

Changes in level add heaps of interest, particularly in an otherwise flat garden.

Pay attention to textures and finishes around water - good grip in all conditions is vital.