How To Fix Your Lawn After Above-Ground Pool Removal

Having an above-ground pool removed from your yard opens up a host of opportunities when it comes to how you use and enjoy your home. Perhaps you are relieved to eliminate the worries caused by having a pool in your yard when young children or pets are around, or maybe you are glad to have to no longer look at a pool that is in a state of disrepair.

Maybe you never wanted a pool in the first place, but your new home already had one installed and removing it was the first thing you did after moving in. Perhaps you reluctantly had your pool removed because you could no longer stay on top of maintenance expenses and chores. Whatever the reason, you now have a generous space in your yard that you can use for a variety of purposes and add more beauty and utility to your home.

Here’s how you can fix your lawn after you have had an above-ground pool removed so that you can use it however you desire.

Assess The Space

If you have removed the pool yourself or you hired professionals only for removal and hauling part of the process, you may be left with a large empty hole in your yard. If you intend to plant grass, you will first need to determine how much topsoil will be needed to fill in the space.

You also need to assess any damages to your yard from the pool removal process, particularly if you have removed it yourself; most professionals will leave your yard undamaged following a pool removal. If you’re doing this as a DIY project, there could be land deformation from the pool itself, as well cracks in the surface of your yard. Your deck may have shifted or rotted, and it may be necessary to either repair it or remove it entirely depending on what you plan to do with your yard next.

You can also inspect the drainage or plumbing lines that were used for your pool to see if they may be usable, such as for installing sprinklers or watering systems in your yard. If not, you might choose to remove them or simply leave them there.

You may also find mildewed plants or weeds in your yard that grew near the pool while it was in place. Remove these to protect the health of your garden. It is also a good idea to remove the soil beneath your pool as it may contain fungus that could compromise future planting efforts.

Fill The Area With Soil

Once your pool’s shell has been hauled away and you have assessed the area where it stood, you can proceed with filling the area with soil. Getting the right ratio and type of dirt and topsoil is essential. In general, experts advise using 80 percent fill material, which may be dirt, and 20 percent topsoil. This will ensure that your ground has a solid base and a top that is soft enough for sod or seeds to grow. If you will be planting grass, you will need at least 6 inches of topsoil.

You should hire experts to fill the area with soil so they can ensure it is properly compacted. Otherwise, it could settle, putting the people and structures in your yard at risk, not to mention it can increase the potential for water problems. Professionals can use tools like trench rollers to make sure the yard will stand up to its future use.

Add Your Sod Or Grass Seeds

Once the soil is in place, it is time to add your sod or grass seeds. If you’re using seeds, you want to ensure they are distributed evenly or your grass could end up growing in clumps. A seed broadcaster can help to make the job a lot easier and help you achieve more even results.

Once the seeds have been distributed, you can use a turf roller or another type of gardening equipment to press the grass seeds into the soil slightly and flatten the surface. This allows them to bury underneath the soil properly and it levels the ground at the same time.

Fertilize And Water

Finally, you will want to add some fertilizer to the ground. The package of the fertilizer you buy will indicate how much should be used for the area at hand. Take care to follow these instructions and do not over-fertilize the seeds.

If you have a plumbing and drainage system, you may choose to install sprinklers throughout the yard to take care of your new lawn. Alternatively, you could use a garden hose and traveling sprinklers. Make sure that you use a light stream of water to avoid drowning the seeds.

Make Your Yard More Beautiful And Functional

Simply planting a beautiful lawn of grass where your pool was can completely transform your home and allow you to get plenty of use out of your yard. However, you might also choose to add other items to the space to enhance the functionality and beauty of your yard. Here are a couple of ideas.

Recreation

If you have children, you might opt to add a playground or trampoline area for them to play. If you’re the athletic type, you could create an outdoor fitness park in your yard or install a volleyball net, for example.

Entertainment

You might also decide to build a patio or an outdoor kitchen in your yard so that you can entertain guests or enjoy the area yourself. A fire pit can serve as a gathering point on chilly evenings.

Gardening

Instead of grass, you may wish to start a flower or vegetable garden where your pool once stood. You might create raised garden beds to plant vegetables or make a flower garden with a charming path and benches.

Reach Out To Dirt Connections

Enlisting the services of a pool removal company like Dirt Connections means your yard will be left in the perfect condition for whatever use you have planned. We will discuss your goals for your former pool area with you prior to beginning the project so we can ensure the space is left in the right condition to move forward safely.