As you think about the surface around your pool, many people ask is grass a good idea.
Just imagine, you enjoy a nice relaxing swim, hop out, and then you have to walk on the hot, hard pavement. Would grass be better?
There is a lot to think about when it comes to putting grass around your pool – does the chlorinated water affect the grass? How do you keep the cut grass clippings out of the water? Is grass low maintenance around a pool?
So, if you are looking at grass as a surface, here are the pros and cons of confinement in one spot.
Pros of grass around a pool
Natural surface
To begin with, grass is a natural surface, and it drains exceptionally well.
As a society where we all need to be better stewards of the environment installing grass around a pool is actually environmentally friendly.
Because it drains well, you do not need to worry about pool water pooling around the pool. Any water that is splashed out will simply drain into the soil.
The same applies to rain water, there will be no pooling around the pool and it should dry quickly.
Cheap
Grass installation is very affordable.
There is limited maintenance of mowing, but for a “surface” this is very inexpensive.
You may need to reseed a couple of patches occasionally, but this is a once a year or less occurrence, if you’re caring for it.
If you go with decking, you will need to pressure wash and reseal occasionally.
With paving, you would need to pressure wash it too, to maintain that “new” look.
It’s safe
Unlike tiled surfaces, slipping on grass is less common.
And if you do slip, a grassy surface is a lot less likely to cause you significant harm compared to a hard surface.
It looks nice
Let’s face it, we can’t get enough of greenery in the garden.
A pool surrounded by grass looks great!
It’s cool and comfortable
Unlike paved or tiled surfaces, grass will always be cool underfoot and not burn your feet.
It’s a great ground surface material around pools in very hot climates.
Grass is comfortable to walk on in addition to being cool under bare feet. There are no sharp items to hurt your foot!
Cons of grass around a pool
All surfaces have pros and cons.
Let’s take a look at some of the things to consider with a grass surface around a pool.
It needs TLC
Grass, unlike tiled or paved areas, does require a little TLC. There are two main factors effecting it as a surface – growth and water.
Mowing the grass, unless done carefully, is likely to create a mess in the pool, and water will create muddy patches of bare earth especially if you use the same entry/exit to the pool time after time.
As well as mowing, you will need to:
- water the grass
- fertilize it
- weed it
- and aerate it
All of this takes time!
It can be affected by chlorine
Chlorine is a necessary chemical for swimming pools, but it can hurt grass.
If it has been diluted with ample water, it is unlikely to cause any problems unless there is a lot of chlorine in a small space in a short amount of time.
Report it concentrated, you can kill grass. You should always wash down chlorine spills (pool water splashes are fine).
It’s no good with heavy traffic
During the summer, you’re likely to use the pool extensively and experience heavy foot traffic.
Grass pool areas do not typically hold up well with multiple visitors, or simply don’t look as good as the end of the summer.
Herbicides and Pesticides can end up in the pool
If you use chemicals like herbicides and pesticides on your grass, they can find their way into the pool water.
Higher water consumption
If you own a swimming pool, you are likely already utilizing a considerable amount of water.
If your pool is surrounded by grass, you will be using even more water for watering, especially if you live in an area that doesn’t have significant rainfall in the summer.
Final thoughts on pros and cons of grass around a pool
When you’re making upgrades to your pool or adding a new one, you’ll want to think carefully about the surface you want to install around your pool.
Just like every surface type, grass has its advantages and disadvantages.
Grass is cool, comfortable, and inexpensive. Grass, however, requires maintenance such as mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and reseeding.
If you have high traffic in your pool during the summer, you should also keep in mind that if you have something with a lot of foot traffic, it will wear down to bare ground.
You will want to consider the pros and cons of grass before making a decision.