Page 38 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • April 10. 2013 The backyard has become a go-to destination for warm weather recreation. As the “staycation” has grown in popularity, more effort has been put into making the backyard a place where all members of the household can enjoy themselves. That means merging interests into one space. A pool may be competing for acreage along with a decorative patch of lawn. Some homeowners wonder if lawns and pools can be successful alongside each other. Many question if chlorinated pool water poses any ill effects on the grass in the backyard. In addition to splash-out of water during fun times in the pool, water also will be tracked across the lawn from those exiting the pool or will flood the grass when it is necessary to clean and “backwash” the filter. Will you be left with a dried-out patch of chlorine-burned lawn? Probably not. Healthy chlorine levels in a pool are kept so that the pool water is generally on par with the chlorine levels contained in regular tap water. Homeowners would not Can pools and lawns cohabitate peacefully? hesitate to turn on the hose to water the lawn, so they should not be overly concerned about pool water splashing out of the pool, particularly if they are stringent about maintaining the proper pH levels and chlorine levels. In addition, soil can withstand chlorine at high acid levels and is pretty resilient about self-correcting. Furthermore, grass blades are selective about which nutrients they absorb, so excess chlorine likely will not penetrate the grass blades. Chlorine dissipates in sunshine. Therefore, while the levels may be elevated upon just hitting the grass, over a short while the chlorine will essentially be used up and pose no additional threat to the surrounding lawn. Some people have said that watering the lawn with pool water can be an eco-friendly way to curb water use. However, it is unadvisable to water vegetable gardens with pool water due to any trace levels of other chemicals that may be found in the pool water. Homeowners who are still concerned about exposing their lawns to pool water can create a buffer zone around the pool. In-ground pools are traditionally bordered by concrete or patio blocks. Place stone or mulch around the perimeter of an above-ground pool to catch any splashes and to create a barrier between the pool and the lawn. Direct backwashed water through a long tube and have it flow into an area away from the lawn. Pool owners who want to have vibrant grass likely do not need to worry about chlorine damaging their lawns. In fact, the lawns may flourish with the extra watering.