To keep leaves out of your pool, you can use a pool cover, install a physical barrier like a fence or enclosure, and manage the trees and plants in your yard. Using these methods together is the best way to stop a leafy mess before it even starts.
Use a Pool Cover
The easiest way to stop leaves is to cover your pool. A pool cover is the most common and best barrier you can use.
Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Cabana, says that “any type of pool cover will help, but there are also covers that are specifically designed for keeping leaves out. If you live somewhere with a lot of leaf shedding, make sure you keep your pool covered at all times when you aren’t using it.”
Here’s a quick rundown of each type of pool cover:
| Cover Type | Leaf Blocking Effectiveness | Ease of Use | Average Lifespan |
| Leaf net | Excellent (for leaves) | Easy | 4 to 7 years |
| Mesh safety cover | Good (stops large debris) | Moderate | 10 to 15 years |
| Solid safety cover | Excellent (stops all debris) | Difficult (heavy) | 6 to 10 years |
| Automatic cover | Excellent (stops all debris) | Very easy | 5 to 7 years (fabric) |
| Solar/tarp cover | Fair (stops some debris) | Moderate to difficult | 1 to 3 years |
Leaf nets: These are light mesh sheets made just to catch leaves. You pull it tight over your pool so leaves land on the net, not in the water. Leaf nets are cheap and easy to use because they are light.
Mesh safety covers: A mesh safety cover is a strong, woven sheet pulled tight across the pool and anchored to the deck. It works as a safety barrier that keeps out leaves and other big pieces of dirt.
Solid safety and winter covers: These are made from a solid vinyl sheet. Like mesh covers, they are anchored to the deck for safety. A solid cover gives you full protection from all leaves and dirt. Solid covers are heavy, which makes them harder to put on and take off.
Automatic covers: Made out of solid vinyl, these covers open and close with a button or key. The best thing about them is that they are easy to use, so you are more likely to cover the pool daily, giving you constant protection from leaves.
Standard tarp and solar covers: These bubble-wrap style pool covers are the simplest and cheapest options and will keep some leaves out of the pool.
Install a Pool Enclosure
A pool enclosure (like a screened-in structure or even a retractable dome) is the final answer for a permanent fix. It’s basically a permanent shield over your pool that stops almost all leaves, dirt, and bugs from ever getting in it. This cuts down on cleaning time a lot.
The main problem is the very high cost. A pool enclosure is a big project and is much more expensive than any cover.
Maintain a Clean Yard and Pool Area
“I suggest you trim the surrounding trees and bushes regularly and plant windbreak hedges to reduce the number of leaves that get blown into the pool in the first place,” says Jonas McCullar, Co-Owner at American Pool Techs.
Pruning and yard care: The easiest step is to care for the trees you have. Regularly trim any branches that hang over your pool. Rake or bag leaves on your lawn so the wind cannot blow them into the pool. Don’t use a leaf blower right next to your pool.
Add leaf fences and windbreaks: A lot of leaves are carried by the wind from other parts of your yard or your neighbour’s yard. You can stop them with physical barriers. A solid fence can work as a good windbreak. Planting a row of thick hedges is another way to make a natural barrier.
Choose pool-friendly plants: If you are planting new trees or shrubs, you can make your life easier by choosing clean plants. Avoid trees like oaks and pines near the pool because they drop a lot of leaves or needles.
Neglecting yard maintenance can lead to more than just leaf accumulation. It can even turn your pool green! Don’t worry: Cleaning a green pool is simpler than you may think.
A Seasonal Plan for a Leaf-Free Pool
The best plan for keeping leaves out changes with the seasons. Yamaguchi says, “It definitely helps to be aware of how the seasons impact how many leaves and debris you’ll be dealing with.”
If leaves have already made their way into your pool despite your preventative efforts, read our How to Get Leaves Out of Your Pool guide.
Fall
Fall is the most important time for leaf prevention. Yamaguchi says, “It can be wise to be more proactive about going out there yourself and manually moving as many leaves as possible, including from the ground throughout the rest of your yard (because wind can blow leaves around).”
Use your main cover, like a leaf net or safety cover, whenever the pool is not being used. Empty your skimmer baskets every day if you need to. If you find that leaves are still getting into your pool, check out our guide on how to get them out.
It is also important to know how often to clean your pool filter during this season. Don’t forget to rake leaves from your yard often so they do not blow into the pool.
Winter
When you close your pool for the winter, a good cover is your best friend. A strong mesh or solid safety cover will protect your pool from the elements.
A nice trick for the fall-to-winter transition is to put a leaf net on top of your main winter cover, which will catch all the last-minute leaves. Once the trees are bare, you can take the leaf net off before the first heavy snow. This makes opening the pool in the spring much easier because you won’t have a pile of soggy, frozen leaves on your cover.
Spring
Before you even think about taking off the winter cover, use a broom or leaf blower to clear off all the leaves and gunk that collected over the winter. This stops a whole season’s worth of dirt from falling right into your clean water.
Spring also brings pollen, which can cover your pool like a yellow blanket and clog your filter. You’ll need to skim a lot, so it helps to know how to get pollen out of your pool and how to clean a pool filter.
Summer
Fewer leaves fall during summertime, but there are new things to deal with. Summer storms can blow leaves into your pool. An automatic cover is great in the summer because it’s easy to use between swims.
Keep your skimmers clear and run your pump for at least 8 to 12 hours a day to keep the water clean. Knowing how often to vacuum your pool can also help you keep up with summer cleaning.
FAQ About Keeping Leaves Out of Your Pool
To stop your skimmer from constantly clogging, try to reduce the number of leaves getting into the pool in the first place with a good cover or by trimming nearby trees. For the leaves that do get in, you can make your skimmer work harder by adjusting the valves to increase suction.
The best way to stop leaves from a neighbour’s yard is to put up barriers. A tall, solid fence works very well to block windblown leaves. You can also plant thick evergreen hedges to act as a natural barrier.
A pool cover is much more effective as it blocks leaves falling from trees directly above and those blowing in from the side. A fence is great for stopping leaves that blow across the ground, but won’t do anything about the ones falling from overhead.
Let a Pro Handle the Leaf Cleanup
Keeping leaves out of your pool can feel like a full-time job, especially in the fall. If setting up covers, trimming trees, and cleaning skimmers sounds like more work than you want to do, there is an easier way.
We can connect you with experienced, local pool pros who can handle all the hard work for you so that you can spend less time cleaning and more time swimming.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled services in seconds and leave the rest to us.
Read More:
- Handheld and Manual Pool Cleaners: Types and How to Choose
- How to Manually Vacuum a Swimming Pool
- Pros and Cons of a Robotic Pool Cleaner
Main Image: A covered pool in a backyard with autumn leaves on top. Photo Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest / Adobe Stock
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