When a pool is removed from a Southern Highlands property, something interesting happens: the cleared site, properly backfilled and graded, becomes one of the best growing spots in the entire garden. The basalt-derived soils of Wingecarribee Shire are among the most naturally fertile in NSW, the rainfall is reliable, and the temperate climate supports a wide range of productive and ornamental plants. This guide is about what to do with that opportunity.
Quick Answer (BLUF)
The former pool area on a Southern Highlands property is ideal for a productive vegetable garden, a cool-climate orchard, a native garden with local species, or a combination of all three. The basalt clay soil needs amendment with compost and gypsum before planting (clay drainage improvement is critical). Most of the Highlands is USDA hardiness zone 8-9, supporting stone fruit, brassicas, berries, apples, and pears very well. A native garden with local Wingecarribee species creates habitat and requires almost no watering once established.
Understanding Your New Site After Pool Removal
The backfilled pool area has specific characteristics that affect planting:
Soil profile: The upper 150-300mm is topsoil placed by the contractor. Below that is compacted fill material. Below the fill depth, the native basalt clay soil resumes. The transition zones between these layers may restrict root penetration initially.
Compaction: The fill has been compacted for structural stability. This compaction is appropriate for support, but garden plants benefit from loosening the top 300-400mm before planting. A garden fork or rotary hoe run through the topsoil layer before planting improves drainage and root penetration.
Drainage: If the contractor installed subsoil drainage within the fill (as recommended), the site will drain well. If not, the clay parent soil below the fill may restrict drainage, particularly through winter. Monitor the site for waterlogging in the first wet season and address with additional drainage if needed. See stormwater management after pool removal.
Fertility: Fresh topsoil (from good sources) has reasonable fertility, but benefits from compost addition before planting. The Southern Highlands basalt clay that will gradually mix through the profile as roots and earthworms work through it is inherently fertile.
Soil Preparation: The First Step
Before any planting, prepare the former pool site:
| Step | What to Do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Loosen topsoil | Fork or rotary hoe top 300mm | Break up compaction in surface layer |
| Add compost | 100mm of quality compost worked in | Improve drainage, add biology |
| Add gypite or gypsum | 1-2 kg/m² if heavy clay | Flocculate clay particles, improve drainage |
| Check pH | Test pH, aim for 6.0-7.0 for most vegetables | Adjust with lime (if acid) or sulfur (if alkaline) |
| Wait | Allow 2-4 weeks after soil preparation | Let compost integrate and soil settle |
The Southern Highlands basalt clay tends toward pH 6.0-7.0 naturally, well within the range for most productive plants. The main amendment requirement is drainage improvement in the transition zone between topsoil and compacted fill.
Option 1: The Productive Vegetable Garden
The Southern Highlands is excellent vegetable-growing country. The cool winters are ideal for brassicas and root vegetables; the warm summers support tomatoes, zucchini, and beans; the long spring and autumn shoulder seasons are good for almost everything.
What grows exceptionally well in the Southern Highlands:
| Vegetable Category | Specific Varieties | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Brassicas | Kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli | Autumn, Winter |
| Root vegetables | Potato, parsnip, beetroot, carrot, turnip | Autumn, Winter, Spring |
| Leafy greens | Silverbeet, spinach, Asian greens, lettuce | Year-round (shelter from frost) |
| Legumes | Broad beans (winter), French beans (summer) | Seasonal |
| Brassicas (second mention) | Cabbage, kohlrabi | Autumn, Winter |
| Summer crops | Tomato, zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin | Summer |
| Alliums | Garlic, onion, leek | Winter-Spring |
Garden bed options for the pool site:
- In-ground beds: Simply plant directly into the prepared topsoil. Cost-effective and the most naturalistic approach.
- Raised beds: Build raised beds from timber or galvanised steel corrugated iron above the compacted fill surface. Excellent drainage, visual appeal, easier access. Allow $200 to $600 per 2m × 4m bed.
- No-dig garden: Lay cardboard over the site, cover with compost-rich garden mix to 300mm depth, and plant directly. Avoids need to break up compaction.
Option 2: Cool-Climate Orchard
The Southern Highlands is ideal for cool-climate fruit, and a 25-40m² former pool footprint can accommodate 4-8 fruit trees in a productive orchard.
Recommended cool-climate fruit for Southern Highlands conditions:
| Fruit | Varieties | Chill Hours Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Granny Smith, Fuji, Cox’s Orange | 700-1000+ hrs | Excellent in Bowral/Bundanoon |
| Pear | Beurre Bosc, Williams | 700+ hrs | Very well suited |
| Cherry | Bing, Lapins, Morello | 700-1000 hrs | Need cross-pollination pair |
| Plum | Satsuma, Santa Rosa | 500-700 hrs | Excellent |
| Quince | Smyrna, Pineapple | 600+ hrs | Old Highlands favourite |
| Gooseberry | Hinnonmäki Red, Invicta | 700+ hrs | Underrated Highlands crop |
| Currants | Blackcurrant, redcurrant | 600+ hrs | Very productive in cool climate |
| Feijoa | Apollo, Unique | 100-200 hrs | Handles frost; fruit Oct, May |
Most standard apple and pear varieties in the Highlands receive adequate chill hours (winter cold hours below 7°C) to fruit reliably, this is one area where the Highlands climate provides a genuine advantage over coastal Sydney gardeners.
Spacing for dwarf rootstock fruit trees: 2.5-4m between trees. A 7m × 3.5m former pool footprint can accommodate a productive orchard of 4-6 dwarf trees.
Option 3: Native Garden with Local Southern Highlands Species
A native garden designed with local Wingecarribee Shire species creates habitat, requires minimal watering once established, and is extremely low-maintenance. The former pool site’s topsoil needs to be adjusted for native planting (natives generally prefer lower fertility than vegetables):
Preparation for native garden:
- Do not add compost or fertiliser to the main planting area (natives prefer lower-nutrient conditions)
- Adjust to slightly acidic pH if needed (5.5-6.5 suits most local natives)
- Mulch with 75-100mm of coarse bush mulch after planting
Local native species appropriate for the Southern Highlands:
| Plant Type | Species | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ground covers | Scleranthus biflorus (knawel), Goodenia ovata | Low-growing, frost-hardy |
| Grasses | Poa labillardieri, Themeda triandra | Tussock grasses, habitat value |
| Shrubs | Grevillea sericea, Acacia pravissima | Shelter, bird attracting |
| Medium shrubs | Kunzea ericoides (burgan), Leptospermum polygalifolium | Habitat shrubs |
| Small trees | Acacia melanoxylon (blackwood), Casuarina cunninghamiana | Fast-growing, shelter |
| Flowering plants | Hardenbergia violacea, Dianella tasmanica | Colour, wildlife value |
Contact the Southern Highlands’ local nurseries (several in Bowral and Mittagong carry local provenance plant stock) for species availability and provenance recommendations.
Option 4: Outdoor Entertaining Area
Not everyone wants a garden, many homeowners in the Southern Highlands prefer a clean, low-maintenance outdoor entertaining space where the pool used to be. This is a perfectly valid outcome:
- Timber deck: A hardwood or composite deck over the filled pool area. Elevated slightly to allow any moisture migration to drain. Cost: $10,000 to $25,000 for a standard 30m² deck.
- Paved area: Concrete or stone paving. Requires appropriate subbase over compacted fill. Cost: $5,000 to $15,000 for a standard-size area.
- Gravel garden: Decomposed granite or river pebble with feature planting, low-maintenance and very effective in the Highlands style.
Combining Uses: The Hybrid Approach
Many Southern Highlands homeowners divide the former pool footprint:
- Half productive garden (raised beds or orchard)
- Half lawn or entertaining area
This is a practical outcome that addresses multiple needs and creates a visually interesting space. The garden area frames the entertaining space naturally.
A 7m × 3.5m pool footprint provides approximately 25m², enough for two 2m × 4m raised beds, a small area of feature planting, and a grass or paved area for chairs and a table.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to wait before planting after pool removal? For in-ground planting, allow at least 4-8 weeks after backfill is complete for initial settlement, then prepare the soil as described above. For raised beds built on top of the compacted fill, you can plant almost immediately after the beds are filled with potting mix or garden mix.
Will the compacted fill affect plant root growth? Surface-rooting plants (most vegetables, annual flowers) won’t be affected if the top 300mm is properly prepared. Deep-rooted perennials and trees may initially have their root penetration restricted by the compacted fill layer, but as roots, earthworms, and seasonal moisture cycles work through the fill, it gradually loosens over 2-5 years.
Is the basalt clay soil good for vegetables? Excellent, basalt-derived clay is among the most mineral-rich soils available. The challenge is drainage, not fertility. With compost and gypsum added to improve drainage, basalt clay becomes outstanding vegetable-growing soil.
Can I plant directly into the topsoil placed during pool removal? Yes, after loosening and amending with compost. Ask your contractor whether the topsoil is organic-rich (good for gardens) or subsoil (which will need more amendment). Good quality topsoil from the contractor is ready for planting with basic preparation.
What plants should I avoid after pool removal in a bushfire prone area like Bundanoon? In bushfire-prone areas, avoid highly combustible plants: dry ornamental grasses, eucalyptus species with loose bark, dense shrub plantings with dry-leaf litter. Choose low-growing succulents, lawn, stone mulch gardens, deciduous trees, and vegetable gardens over dry-season fire fuel plants.
Ready to transform your pool site into a productive, beautiful garden? Contact Southern Highlands Pool Removals for a removal quote that sets up your site for the best possible planting outcome.