Grass clippings can get tracked into your pool on people’s feet or they can get blown in by the wind. However they manage to enter your pool, it’s a problem that you need to address. Grass clippings can clog your pool filter and they are hard to clean out. So what are some methods to keep grass out of the pool during and after mowing?
To deal with grass getting tracked in, consider installing a foot bath or outdoor shower so family and guests can rinse their feet before and after swimming. To deal with grass getting blown in, consider adding some distance between your pool and lawn. This can be done by incorporating plant beds around your pool, or installing a hardscape. Ideally, you are mowing the lawn with a bagging mower so that most of the grass clippings are contained in the grass catcher. If you have astroturf, you never have to mow it.
Some of these suggestions can be done in conjunction with one another. Some are also much easier to do without breaking the bank, whereas installing a hardscape is an expensive but permanent solution to this problem. Keep reading on as we discuss the rationale behind each suggestion.
Keep some distance between pool and lawn
If you’re installing a pool or thinking about renovating the area around an existing one, consider the distance between the pool and your lawn.
Ideally, there should be a 4-foot wide border around the pool so that there are walking areas for pool guests to comfortably traverse.
However, another reason for doing so is to create a barrier between the pool water and the lawn. That way, there is less of a chance for grass clippings to blow into the pool because you have the extra space.
How to keep grass clippings out of the pool
Install a foot bath
We are starting off with the simplest and most affordable option to reduce the amount of grass clippings entering your pool: a foot bath.
Installing a foot bath addresses the issue of people entering the pool with grass on their feet. By having a convenient footb ath, they can rinse their feet to any grass clippings so that they don’t get tracked into the pool.
Foot baths don’t have to be anything fancy, though it certainly could if you’re willing to put in the effort. That said, a large plastic tub or even a small inflatable pool by the actual pool will suffice.
For something a little more permanent, a cement tray can be installed nearby. Just remember that whatever your solution, the water should be easily changed out so don’t get anything too large.
Remember that you also need to clean the foot bath, since it will contain all the grass clippings. Simply hose it down until the water runs clean and there are no more grass clippings sticking to its sides.
Install an outdoor shower
In a similar vein to the above, you can install an outdoor shower for guests to rinse off any debris before entering the pool. This is also good for hygiene purposes so the free chlorine in your pool doesn’t get used up so quickly.
Just like the foot bath, the outdoor shower also does not need to be anything fancy. It can literally just be a nozzle and head attached to the deck of your pool. Of course, if you have the budget for something fancier, then go for it.
The key here is that the shower needs to be installed close to the pool. The shower must also be next to a grass-free walkway so that one can shower and walk to the pool without tracking more grass along the way, defeating the purpose.
Install a hardscape
Besides swimmers tracking grass clippings into your pool, the next major cause of grass clippings entering your pool is due to yard work.
If you have a yard, you will be forced to mow it. Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep grass clippings from flying around in the air, even if your lawnmower has a grass catcher. It is inevitable that grass clippings will get everywhere, and one way to alleviate this problem is to install a hardscape.
A hardscape is any material that is durable, hard, and does not require much maintenance the same way a lawn would. There are many avenues you could go down: stamped concrete, pavers, and natural stone are some popular options.
Keep in mind that this solution is expensive. However, they are an effective and permanent solution to ensure that most grass clippings don’t enter the pool.
Plant a garden bed
If you want to create more distance between your lawn and pool, consider incorporating a garden bed in your lawn. This separates the grassy area from the water and makes it highly unlikely that grass clippings will track to your pool.
Furthermore, garden beds look aesthetically pleasing, so it is even better that it’s serving a dual purpose. If you feel that your swimming pool and lawn are looking pretty barren, consider planting a garden bed to spruce it up.
Use a lawnmower with grass catcher
For those unaware, the grass catcher is the bag that catches all the grass clippings that the lawnmower produces.
Regardless of how the grass clippings are making their way into your pool, having a lawnmower with a grass catcher will drastically reduce the amount of grass clippings left behind. There will simply not be much grass to track or to get blown into the pool by the wind.
All types of lawn mowers, whether it’s a manual lawn mower, push mower, or riding lawnmowers, can be fitted with a grass catcher to collect the grass clippings that the lawn mower makes.
Depending on how large your lawn is, the bags have to be emptied several times. However, it’s much more convenient than leaving the grass clippings on the lawn and having to rake them up afterwards. Your yard will look significantly cleaner with less effort.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, efficient, and preventative solution to grass clippings getting into your pool, then get right to the heart of the problem and collect the grass clippings with a grass catcher right as you mow them.w
