Prep your pool for a summer party

One of the best things that go along with the sweltering summer heat is the summertime pool party. No other time of year provides the opportunity to hang outside with our friends and play games, grill, and cool off with dips in the pool. If you have a pool, hosting get-togethers is possibly one of the main reasons you installed it in the first place. Since you went to the trouble to dig a beautiful pool in your backyard, you may as well plan a party that people will remember.

Prep steps for a great pool party

Planning a pool party is a little different from planning other outdoor parties. You’ve still got to prepare enough food and drinks for the number of guests you expect. You’ve also still got things like music and outdoor activities to organize. But, for an unforgettable pool party, you’ve got to make sure the water is something people actually want to dip into to beat the heat.

Brush and shock your pool

The first thing you’ll want to do to ready the pool is brush and shock the pool. This is best done around 2-3 days prior to your party. Giving the sides and floor of your pool a good scrub will make the water look cool and clear. If the backdrop for your water is littered with debris, the water may look dirtier than it actually is. Scrub everything toward the main drain so the cleaner can suck up any dirt and debris broken loose during the brushing process.

After brushing it clean, shock the water. This will help keep the water clean and clear and will also help prepare it for the summer pool party crowd it will be hosting. The more people you have going in and out of the pool, the more dirt and debris will make it into the water, so pre-treatment is a great idea.

Check the filter

Now that you’ve got the pool nice and clean check your filter. Backwash and clean the filter if it’s been a while, and make sure the pressure is correct. With all the added traffic, you’ll want to make sure your filter is ready to work efficiently.

Add some water clarifier and algae eliminator

You’ll want to keep your pristine pool looking great for the day of the pool party, so it’s a good idea to add some water clarifier and algae eliminator a day or two before the crew shows up. This will keep anything that might impact the clarity of the water controlled until your guests arrive.

Check water quality and perform any last-minute cleaning tasks

The day before your gathering, check your water quality and add any chemicals necessary to bring your pH to the ideal level. Also, make sure the pool hasn’t accumulated any debris over the past couple of days. It’s a good idea to run your vacuum and clean out the baskets.

Clean the area around the pool

An important step in keeping things clean when multiple people are using the pool is cleaning the surrounding area so bare feet aren’t dragging things into the water. Clean the deck and any place people will be gathering before people get there. Don’t forget the pool landscaping in your cleaning pass.

Plan for future gatherings

If you like the idea of hosting a pool party on a regular basis, consider beautifying the landscape around it. A change in context can transform a pool from a cement hole in the ground into a tropical lagoon worthy of your fabulous friends and family.

Pool and landscape design

When envisioning the parties that will make your gatherings the talk of the town, what do you see? Probably some beautiful plants and ground cover. Maybe some nice, low lighting that helps people see where their bare feet are stepping, as well as creating an ambiance that creates a perfect transition from daylight to nightlife.

Add plants

While perusing pool landscaping ideas, keep maintenance in mind. Choosing plants that require little maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your landscape stress-free. Pools require a real-time investment if you want to keep them beautiful and operating smoothly, so the more high-maintenance plants you add, the more time you’ll spend in the yard working. If you like to hire people to do that for you, those high-maintenance items will translate into more expensive maintenance bills. Low-maintenance plants allow you to spend your time and money hosting parties rather than on maintenance.

Potted plants are a great way to introduce greenery to your landscape in areas you wouldn’t otherwise be able to plant anything. They bring all the pretty colors to the water’s edge, adding to a more natural feel. Choosing beautifully colored pots adds an extra splash of color to the pool area that can define or accent your overall color scheme.

Ground Cover

Once you’ve got your plant life picked out, you’ll have to decide what type of ground cover you want. Things like grasses and mulch look nice in the garden, but landscaping around a pool with rocks provides more than just visual impact. 

A deep layer of rocks can prevent weeds and contribute to a variety of textures in your landscape. Make sure not to use pebbles that are too small, though, as they can wreak havoc on your pool’s filtration system.

Gathering areas

Creating great get togethers requires more than just cleaning up and decorating a bit. Your pool landscape design should include defined gathering areas that allow a nice flow and give guests cozy areas in which to converse. 

Outdoor kitchens are a really popular option for pool party hosts and hostesses. They allow the cook to interact with the group and create a central location for food and libations. It’s a center point for the party. Creating satellite gathering areas around outdoor furniture rounds out the yard with places for the group to break into smaller sets and chat.

Lighting

If you’re going to run your parties into the evening, you’re going to want some nice lighting. LED technology has increased to the point that you can add lighting anywhere you want, and they can be toggled amongst an almost endless array of different color options. Not only do they help light the overall party area, but they can help define different parts of the landscape.

Creating your plan

When you decide that regular pool party weekends are for you, it’s time to create a plan. Look through examples of pool landscapes and figure out what you like and don’t like. Talk to a professional when you’re ready to turn that plan into reality. They can set you up so your parties can happen with minimal effort and preparation. Keeping your pool maintained year-round will cut your prep time considerably, so make sure you have all the info and equipment you need for a beautiful, sparkling pool that’s ready when you are.