Lots of homes around Seminole, Largo and the beaches have a pool, a screened lanai, or both. They're the best part of the yard, but they also take a little extra care when it comes to mowing and cleanup. Grass clippings, leaves and dirt love to end up in the water or on the pool deck. Here's how I handle yards with a pool or lanai, plus a few things you can do yourself between visits.
Mow so clippings blow away from the pool
The easiest way to keep clippings out of the pool is to pay attention to which way the mower throws them. Most mowers shoot grass out one side. When I mow near a pool cage or deck, I make my passes so the discharge side points away from the pool and toward the open lawn.
On the rows closest to the pool, I sometimes slow down or make a shorter pass so less grass gets thrown at once. If the grass is really tall or wet, bagging those first few rows near the deck can save a lot of skimming later.
Blow off the deck the right way
After mowing and edging, I blow off the pool deck, walkways and lanai floor. The trick is to blow everything away from the water, not toward it. I start at the pool edge and work outward toward the grass, so clippings and leaves end up back on the lawn instead of floating in the pool.
If it's breezy, I watch the wind direction too. Coastal towns like Madeira Beach, Indian Shores and the Redingtons can get pretty windy in the afternoon, so sometimes it's better to blow in shorter bursts or sweep the last bit by hand.
Keep the grass trimmed along the pool cage
Grass and weeds like to grow right up against the bottom of the screen enclosure. If they get tall, they can poke into the screen, trap moisture and hide bugs. I use a string trimmer carefully along the cage so the line doesn't hit the screen itself. A neat edge along the cage makes the whole backyard look cleaner.
If you have a spot where the trimmer can't reach without touching the screen, hand pulling those few blades of grass is the safest option. It only takes a minute.
Watch out for shrubs and plants near the water
Shrubs and flowers planted around the pool look great, but they drop leaves and flowers right where you don't want them. Keeping shrubs trimmed back a bit from the pool edge means less mess in the water and less for your skimmer basket to catch. It also keeps branches from rubbing on the screen when the wind picks up.
When I trim shrubs near a pool, I lay out the trimmings away from the water and rake them up before I leave. Then everything gets hauled away, so you're not stuck with a pile of branches next to your lanai.
Clear leaves before they pile up
In the fall, oak leaves and other debris can blow onto the screen roof and into corners of the lanai. Small piles hold moisture and get slippery on the pool deck. A quick sweep or blow-off once a week goes a long way. If you have big trees near the pool, it helps to clean up the lawn underneath them regularly so fewer leaves blow in.
Easy tips for pool owners between visits
- Pick up pool toys, hoses and furniture from the lawn before mowing day so nothing gets hit.
- Keep the pool cage door closed while the yard is being mowed so clippings don't blow inside.
- Empty the skimmer basket after a windy day.
- Let me know about any loose pavers, sprinkler heads or low spots near the deck so I can work around them.
Let me help with your pool area
I'm Isaac, and I run Ready 2 Mow right here in Seminole. I mow, edge, trim shrubs, pull weeds by hand and clean up debris, and I'm careful around pools, lanais and screen enclosures. I haul away the yard waste, I'm insured, and I take all payment types.
If you want your backyard looking neat without clippings in your pool, I'd be glad to give you a free quote. Call or text me at (727) 304-7803, or fill out the free quote form. Thanks for supporting a local kid's business!