You have built a beautiful pool after months of planning, designing, and research. Now with the summer months around the corner, you are looking forward to enjoying your pool. But the pests seem to be destroying your pool experience. This is a common problem. Insects are bound to be attracted towards water resources, and your swimming pool is a water resource. We give you some tips to keep pests away from your pool.
1.Pool lights
Insects are naturally attracted to lights. If you keep your swimming pool lights on throughout the night, you will be attracting hordes of insects to your pool. In some cases, lights reflecting on your pool can also attract pests. You can use shields or direct the beam away from the pool walls to reduce the insect menace in such instances.
Install your pool lights at a distance from your pool and turn them off when you are not using the pool. Invest in LED bulbs instead of UV bulbs. Yellow lights prevent bugs form approaching the pool. Yellow CFL or LED lights are known to obstruct bugs vision. Install them if you are planning to use the swimming pool at night. Turn off the underwater pool lights using a timer when you are not using the pool.
Installing decoy lights at a distance from the pool is a foolproof method to attract insects away from the pool. Pest trap can be set up near the decoy lights to effectively trap the insects and pests.
2. Chemical treatments.
Chemical treatments are extremely important for a swimming pool. Pests keep away from chemically treated water. If the chlorine levels in your pool are optimum, bugs won’t survive in your pool. Proper chemical treatment reduces algae which have a tendency to attract insects. Mosquitoes don’t breed in chemically treated water.
3.Landscaping.
Trees and shrubs give a beautiful look to the pool area, but they can work like a magnet to attract insects and pests to the pool. Having tall grass or weeds near pools gives insects the perfect place to breed and survive. Trim all the leaves, trees and shrubs near the pool. Mow the grass and control the growth of weeds. Any tree branches hanging over the pool can drop leaves or insects inside the pool. Make sure to keep tree branches at a distance of 2 feet (0.61 m) from the pool to prevent this problem.
Some herbs such as citronella, rosemary, lemon and sage have chemicals which act as natural insect repellants. Growing these herbs near your pool is an organic way of keeping pests away. Bugs find the scent of garlic, mint and rosemary unpleasant.
4. Insect repellents and traps.
There are insect repellents which can be sprayed around the area near your pools to keep pests away. Placing bug traps around your pool is another effective method to trap and kill bugs. Electronic bug zappers are good at attracting insects and killing them by vaporization. The zapper can be used at night to get rid of insects. Bug zappers need to be cleaned regularly and kept away from moisture. Installing a bug misting system that shoots out a mist of bug repellent is another option to keep insects away from the pool area. Burning certain bug scents are known to ward off bugs.
Pest control professionals can help you to create the trap most suitable to fight pool pests.
5. Installing a pool cover.
Pool covers will give you the dual benefit of keeping pests away and preventing water evaporation. Cover your pool when you are not using it. It will keep the waters warm and clean.
6. Clear stagnant water near your pool.
Check for any water sources like leaking taps, buckets etc. near your pool. They will attract mosquitoes. Get the water source removed as soon as possible else, mosquitoes lay their eggs in such low-lying waters. If you have another water body such as a pond near your pool it can serve as a breeding area for mosquitoes and insects. If you cannot get it removed, then spray larvicide in the water body to kill the bugs.
7. Cleaning and skimming the pool.
Regularly brushing the inside of the pool will remove algae and dead insects from the bottom of the pool. Insects are attracted to algae and dead insects. Cleaning the surface of a fibreglass pool is very easy. Algae do not stick to fibreglass pools. Concrete pools attract algae and require rigorous brushing to remove them. Vacuum clean the debris dislocated during brushing. Skim the surface of the pool regularly so that dead insects don’t bundle up on the surface. Regularly clean your skimmer basket so that bugs and insects trapped inside do not get back to the pool.
Keep the area around the pool clean. Pool toys, clothes, leaves lying around the pool can be perfect places for bugs and insects to hide.
8. Building an enclosure.
Enclosing your pool area is an effective method to get rid of bugs and pests. Enclosure screens can be simple inexpensive ones or the costly glass or fibreglass material. Patio curtains which partially enclose the pool area are another option to keep bugs away.
9.Build birdhouses.
Creating birdhouses near the pool area is an unusual but effective method to keep bugs away. Birds eat the bugs and insects in the air. They usually do not come near humans when they are using the pool.
10. Keep food away.
Food lying around the pool area acts as an incentive for rodents and insects. Be careful to remove pet food, fallen fruit, and traces of barbecues from the pool area quickly.
All these tips may work individually or in combination to get rid of pests. You have to be regular in maintaining your pool so that you can enjoy your swim without being troubled by pests. If all else fails, then it is better to consult an expert who will guide you about the proper methods of pest control.
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