Why Birds of Paradise Ruin Screened Pools (And What to Plant Instead)

The Dilemma

A homeowner recently asked:

I have an enclosed pool patio with a sandy corner bed where overgrown Birds of Paradise are tearing the screens. I'm debating covering the area with a weed barrier and rocks or pouring concrete to minimize maintenance.

The GardenOwl Diagnosis

The Scenario

You are dealing with a classic case of The Caged Giant Syndrome. This happens when homeowners or builders plant macro-scale flora—like Giant Birds of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)—inside a height-restricted architectural enclosure. It looks great for the first two years, but eventually, the plant’s genetic drive to reach 20 feet collides with your 10-foot screen. The result? Torn mesh, bent frames, and a plant that looks tortured rather than tropical.

To make matters worse, your proposed solution is walking right into another pathology: The Suffocation Layer. You mentioned covering the area with an impermeable weed barrier. In the landscape trade, we call this a "future slime factory."

The Trap

There is a pervasive myth that landscape fabric stops weeds. It doesn't. Weeds simply germinate in the dust and organic debris that settles on top of the fabric. Meanwhile, underneath that plastic sheet, your sandy soil is being starved of oxygen. It turns anaerobic, sour, and slimy—creating a bacterial environment that kills the roots of the plants you actually want to keep.

Furthermore, your idea of using "rocks" (likely gravel) near a pool is dangerous. Small gravel migrates. It ends up on the pool deck, cuts bare feet, and eventually gets sucked into your skimmer basket, risking damage to your pump impeller.

Pouring concrete is what I call "Panic Paving." You are frustrated with the maintenance, so you want to seal the earth shut. But pouring concrete inside an existing enclosure is expensive, difficult to finish properly, and removes the one thing a pool deck needs: drainage.

The Solution (Deep Dive)

Since you have sandy soil and a protected microclimate, you have the perfect setup for a high-end tropical look that requires almost zero maintenance. Here is the play-by-play to fix this corner correctly.

1. Excavate the Giants

Remove the remaining Birds of Paradise. Do not try to prune them to size; they will just look like amputated stumps. You need to dig out the root ball entirely. Since you are in a screened enclosure, be careful not to lever your shovel against the aluminum track of the screen frame.

2. Embrace the Sand (Don't Cover It)

Sandy soil is actually a blessing for the plants we are going to use. It drains fast, which prevents root rot. Do not install weed fabric. We want water to splash out of the pool, hit the rocks, and percolate down into the soil. This gas exchange keeps the soil healthy.

3. The "Resort" Planting Plan

Instead of one big green monster, we want a low, colorful understory.

• Bromeliads (Neoregelia or Aechmea): These are epiphytic, meaning they are used to growing on trees with very little soil. They love the sharp drainage of sand. They offer neon pinks, reds, and oranges all year, not just when blooming. They have zero leaf drop, so your pool stays clean.
• Ti Plants (Cordyline fruticosa): If you need a little height (3-4 feet), these add deep purple or electric pink foliage. They have a small footprint and won't push against the screen.

4. The Finish: River Rock

Top dress the bare soil with 1 to 3-inch River Rock.

• Why this size? It is too heavy to get kicked onto the pool deck by accident, and too large to get stuck in the tread of a shoe.
• Why this material? Smooth river stone looks intentional and high-end, unlike crushed gravel which looks like a construction site base. It locks the sand in place while allowing water to flow through freely.

The Diagnostic and Visualizing Safety Net

Pool enclosures are unforgiving spaces. You have limited height, limited light, and nowhere for mistakes to hide. Before you buy plants or haul rock, you need to verify your constraints.

Using GardenDream acts as your safety net. You can upload a photo of your enclosure, and the AI will analyze the spatial limits and lighting conditions to visualize how a low-growing tropical bed will look compared to a concrete slab. It helps you see the "After" before you spend the money.

If you want to spot hidden opportunities in your own yard, upload a photo to our Exterior Design App to get an instant diagnosis and visualize the transformation.