Pool maintenance demands the draining of the pool, and many people hate to see the water waste. In such cases, some people may water their landscape with pool water. This article will discuss the effect of pool water on your plants.
But is this safe for your landscaping?
Watering your landscape affects plants because of the chlorine level in the pool water. Thus, the water is unsuitable for your landscape. However, there are some plants and trees that may be resistant to chlorine levels, but you still need to be careful using pool water. The high chlorine concentration in the water kills plants, but a low chlorine level may be suitable. In addition, low chlorine concentration in the water is good for plants. However, the chlorine concentration in pool water is too high to benefit the plants.
You must think twice before pouring pool water on your flowers, shrubs, vegetables, or trees. Having a landscape or garden needs effort and dedication to maintain. Some landscapes form after years of hard work and struggle to reach the desired look, and a dose of pool water can destroy the entire land. Also, as stated earlier, the high chlorine level in the water makes it bad for plants. Plants like shrubs, tees, and ornamentals are sensitive to chlorine and will start showing a weak and stressed appearance due to long-term damage.
It is natural to want to use pool water for something rather than see it wasted. It only makes sense to wonder if you can use this excess pool water for your garden.
Symptoms of chlorine toxicity in plants
Chlorine in a small amount is good for plants. However, watering your landscape with excess chlorinated water or fertilizer can lead to toxicity, so how can you tell when your plants face excess chlorine consumption?
A common sign of excess chlorine is scorched leaves. The leaves tips become brown and reduce in size. This is a sign that the water has excess chlorine.
You can also observe chlorosis. The damage is caused by excess foliar absorption of chlorine, leading to chlorophyll deficiency and a yellow or bleached appearance.
Can the damage made by pool water be reversed?
If you are already experiencing symptoms of excess chlorine in your garden, don’t freak out. The damage is not too late and can be reversed. Here are some ways to reverse the effect.
You can start by rinsing the landscape with clean, non-chlorinated water. The clean water will dilute the concentration.
You can introduce gypsum to mitigate the chlorine if it affects a large landscape. The chemical is added to the soil but can not be efficiently used in home gardens.
Conclusion
Water is a valuable asset to our landscape, and wasting water is difficult. If your pool uses fresh water, it may not harm the plants. However, chlorinated pools should not be directly used in gardens or landscapes. Some plants may tolerate it, while others may die. However, the level of chlorine in the water determines the effect. So, don’t use pool water on your plants to be safe.
For more information on pool maintenance and to schedule servicing your pool, contact us, we would love to assist in keeping your pool water clean.
More Information on Pool Maintenance:
How to clean poop out of the pool
Uncharted waters – new pool owner responsibilities
Pool Service and cleaning for Lake Havasu City
Black Algae and Your Lake Havasu Pool
Does Chlorine make your eyes sting?