Best Sand for a Pool Filter
Pool-specific filter sand, commonly labeled #20 silica sand at a 0.45 to 0.55mm effective size, is the correct media for a sand filter — generic play sand or mason sand is the wrong grain size…
How to Guides
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How to Fix Acidic Soil
Agricultural lime is the standard fix for acidic soil, raising pH by neutralizing excess acidity, though the exact rate depends on how acidic the soil is and its texture — clay needs meaningfully more lime…
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How to Get Rid of Bindis in a Lawn
A selective, grass-safe herbicide matched to your specific turf type, applied in late winter to early spring before bindi flowers and sets its sharp seed heads, is the standard fix — a non-selective product like…
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How to Acid Wash a Pool
Acid washing a pool removes a thin layer of plaster along with the staining embedded in it, using a diluted muriatic acid solution applied to a drained surface, scrubbed, and neutralized immediately — it’s a…
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How to Increase Soil Microbial Activity
Feeding soil microbes with organic matter, keeping soil aerated rather than compacted, and maintaining steady moisture without waterlogging are the three levers that actually increase microbial activity — most synthetic fertilizers don’t add microbes at…
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How to Get Rid of Scum on Top of a Pool
Floating scum on a pool’s surface is usually oils — sunscreen, lotion, and body oil residue — combined with dust and pollen collecting at the waterline due to surface tension, and it clears with skimming,…
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How to Quiet a Noisy Pool Pump
A pool pump that’s suddenly noisier than usual is almost always one of three things: cavitation from restricted water flow, a worn motor bearing, or vibration being transmitted through the equipment pad — and each…
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Dark Bottom Pool vs Light: What Actually Changes
A dark pool bottom absorbs more solar radiation and runs measurably warmer than a light one under the same conditions, often by 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit — but that same dark color hides debris,…
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How to Water a Sloped Lawn
Water running straight off a sloped lawn before it has a chance to soak in is the single biggest reason slopes stay patchy no matter how often they’re watered. Splitting one watering session into two…
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How to Unclog Pool Lines
Weak suction at the skimmer or a pressure gauge reading below normal points to a clogged pool line, and clearing it usually doesn’t need a plumber. A wet/dry shop vacuum run in reverse through the…
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How to Pre-Germinate Grass Seed
Pre-germinating grass seed for overseeding comes up constantly for anyone trying to speed up patchy spots or a full overseed. The process: soak seed 24 to 48 hours, then keep it moist but not submerged…
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How to Get Broken Glass Out of a Pool
Broken glass in a pool turns a normal afternoon into a safety problem immediately, and how you handle the next twenty minutes matters more than how thorough the eventual cleanup is. Get everyone out of…
