The short answer
In the northern suburbs a prefab pool can go in without cutting down the big garden trees, if the spot is chosen well. We design with two skimmers or an overflow gutter for leaves, and the engineer checks the forest map and building rules before the approval.
Where to put the pool in a garden with trees
The temptation is to put the pool in the shade. In practice, a pool that sees no sun stays cold until July. We look for a spot that gets midday and afternoon sun, away from the big pines, planes and poplars.
Pines have another drawback: they drop needles and resin all year. If there is no other choice, we set the pool with its long side across the wind that brings the leaves, so the wind pushes them towards the skimmers.
Roots, digging and old gardens
The roots of large trees often spread as wide as their crown. Dig too close and the tree is at risk. At the site visit we mark the trees you want to keep and stay clear of them.
In old gardens we often find old irrigation pipes, disused septic tanks or foundations of old sheds. We know to look for them beforehand, so they do not surprise you halfway through.
Filtration for leafy gardens
In a garden with trees the filter works hard. We suggest a bigger sand or glass filter than the minimum, two skimmers instead of one and a pre-filter basket that opens easily. A cleaning robot saves a lot of effort. It is all in the plant room guide.
A cover is even more useful here: it keeps leaves and needles out while you are not swimming and halves cleaning time.
Paperwork: forest map and building rules
Areas such as Dionysos, Drosia, Ekali and parts of Kifisia have plots next to forest land. The engineer checks the published forest map and the special rules of the area before filing the small-scale works approval. If all is in order, the procedure is the same as anywhere else.
From our experienceIn the northern suburbs we ask for the topographic survey of the plot from the start. It saves a visit and shows straight away whether there is a forest map issue.
