Want a pollen-free pool? Follow our pool maintenance guide below for tips on how to keep your swimming pool sparkling clean and free of pollen!

Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for oak trees to bloom. In other words… pollen season is upon us, so get ready and make your pool look gorgeous and squeaky clean by reading more below.

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Plus, it’s easy to keep your pool clean with Manning.


The Guide to a Pollen-Free Pool

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Pollen is coming. March is oak tree blooming season, so get ready for that yellow stuff, pollen, raining down from trees and coating everything in sight.

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What is pollen?

Pollen is a yellow, dust-like substance many Houstonians are very familiar with. It’s infamous for coating cars and making seasonal allergies worse!

Pollen is a fine, powdery substance consisting of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower or from a male cone. Each grain contains a male gamete that can fertilize the female ovule, to which pollen is transported by wind, insects, or animals.

Where does pollen come from?

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Pollen comes from oak trees, which tend to bloom in mid- or late March, once they reach around 20 years old. As they age, these trees produce more and more flowers and acorns.

Like other deciduous trees, oaks lose their leaves in fall and go through a dormant period in wintertime. As the days grow longer and warmer into springtime, oak trees “wake up” and their growth surges.


Oak trees release pollen annually during springtime.


Leaf and flower buds open. Once fertilization has taken place, acorns will emerge from the female flowers, found primarily at the top of the tree.

Unlike female flowers, which are small and nondescript, male oak flowers are very visible as long yellow-green fronds, called catkins, hang from the tips of some of the tree’s branches. The flowers themselves are small and run along the catkin’s middle stem, and they release their supply of pollen in about 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, that pollen often ends up in your pool, which is why regular pool maintenance is so important.

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Pollen release can be delayed by weather like heavy rain, humidity, and heavy storms.


Can pollen hurt my pool? What does pollen do to a pool?

Yes, pollen can certainly hurt your pool – it’s bad for any swimming pool.

This is because pollen is organic matter. If left alone, it creates algae on the walls of your swimming pool, clogs your pool filter, and dirties your pool. No homeowner wants that!

Pollen in your pool can lead to these adverse effects:

  • Yellow or green water
  • Yellow scumline on tile at waterline
  • Dirty pool
  • Clogged filters
  • High chlorine demand

That means you have to spend more time cleaning more often, with more frequent filter cleans, more surface cleaning, and more chemicals you have to use when treating your pool. Pollen means your pool maintenance becomes a lot more work than usual.

How do I keep pollen out of my pool?

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The best way to keep your pool pollen-free is to prepare ahead of time. Since pollen tends to show up around March, when springtime begins, you should have a plan ready to go a few weeks ahead of time.

Honestly, some pollen is going to fall into your pool during pollen season. While there’s no way to prevent every piece of pollen from falling into your pool, there are ways to reduce the amount you have to deal with.

  • Clean Your Filter – Clean your filter before pollen season begins so you can start fresh come spring. Your filter is designed to keep your pool clean and healthy, so let it do its job. Make sure you schedule a filter clean once pollen season ends, too. You want to be prepared for swim season!
  • Run Your Pump – Run your pool pump for 12-14 hours. The more circulation, the better! It’ll keep your pool healthy.
  • Regular Pool Maintenance – Especially during pollen season, it’s extremely important to keep up with weekly pool maintenance and cleaning. If you’re short on time, hire a local pool maintenance company like Manning to take care of it all for you.
  • Silvertrine – We recommend Silvertrine for homeowners with swimming pools that are particularly pollen-heavy. Turn that nasty yellow into a sparkling blue with Silvertrine. It destroys pollen and algae in your pool.
  • Put a Rag in Your Net – Place a rag, sock, or nylon stocking in your net while cleaning your pool to help catch some of the pollen.

Make sure you keep up with weekly maintenance, but not at the expense of your sanity. Just call the pool maintenance experts if the pollen is driving you nuts!


Get Top-Notch Pool Maintenance from Manning Pool Service

Ready to stop worrying about pollen and stressing about your pool? Call Manning Pool Service today. We can maintain, clean, repair, and upgrade your pool, plus keep it sparkling!

Request a quote by calling us at 713-322-8304 or clicking the button below.

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Guide to a Pollen-Free Pool | Manning Pool Service – Houston, TX