On hot days, having your own pool in the garden is a real blessing. But summer is going, the prints remain on the lawn. Cooling off or a well-tended green area, which is the priority? Or is it even possible to set up a pool without damaging the subsurface? This guide gives valuable tips for setting up the pool on the lawn.
Measures to protect the lawn
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A lack of light and pressure have a very bad impact on the lawn under a garden pool. Unfortunately, the fact that the fresh green dries out can only rarely be avoided if it is not used for a long time. Fortunately, new grass is sown quickly. It is only annoying when the grass under the paddling pool starts to go moldy. Most of the time, putrefaction causes a very unpleasant odor. The following tips will help avoid this:
Place the pool on the terrace
In contrast to plants, wooden planks or paving stones on the terrace will not damage an inflatable swimming pool. So that there is no risk of injury to the bathers, they should provide a soft surface with a mat. This also protects the pool material from sharp stones. Are suitable
- plastic mats
- Paint fleece
- or pond fleece
Tip: To make sure that stones or splinters do not leak into the material, you should sweep the surface thoroughly before setting up.
Advantages and disadvantages of different documents
Fleece and foils
Special PVC pads are available in stores that are suitable for setting up a pool on the lawn. However, they only protect the lawn to a limited extent. First and foremost, they serve the purpose of protecting the pool’s material. Mold can form under airtight film. In addition, bacteria collect on the fleece over time, so that regular changes are essential. Puddles on a film increase the risk of injury due to the risk of slipping.
Plastic mats
Plastic mats cushion the movements somewhat due to their height. This means that bathers exert less pressure on the lawn. However, the material soaks up with water, which is also not good for the grass underneath.
Wooden pallets
In order to damage the lawn as little as possible, it is advisable to use wooden pallets as a substructure. The advantage compared to the other alternatives is that the entire surface of the pallets does not rest if they are on feet. Thanks to the raised base, the air circulation under the paddling pool is maintained. If you set up your own, however, it is essential to ensure sufficient stability.
Mow the lawn briefly
Another option that does not prevent the lawn from drying out, but keeps the damage as low as possible, is to mow the grass briefly. In this state, the green area is less prone to mold.
Remove the lawn beforehand
Where no grass grows, no paddling pool can damage the green space. The best option is probably to completely remove the lawn at the location of the pool. This is particularly useful if the storage time is longer, since gardeners hardly have to make any optical compromises in this case.
Tip: With this variant, too, you should collect all the roots and stones at the chosen location when removing the lawn. It is also a good idea to put sand on the topsoil before placing the pool.

Thoughtful garden design
Of course, the gardener could sow the grass again after dismantling the pool. But is it really worth the effort? When the sun’s rays lure the first stalks out of the ground, it’s almost time to set up the paddling pool again. It is therefore advisable to consider the pool as an integral part of the garden. A creative gardener covers the circular area with a layer of mulch and places colorfully planted buckets. These are quickly put aside for the bathing season. The mulch layer not only enriches the underlying topsoil with nutrients, but also serves as a soft base for the garden pool.
Tip: If it is only a children’s paddling pool, you should move it to a different location every day. In this case, your green space will hardly be damaged. If you are able to regularly empty a large pool, you can drain the water up to a quarter and move the object regularly as well. However, this process involves a great deal of effort and high water consumption.
Pave the lawn for a garden pool
Much more important than protecting the lawn is the safety of bathers. A garden pool may only be on a level surface. On the one hand, this condition guarantees safe bathing pleasure, and on the other hand, the garden pool does not threaten to tip over. If the water were to pour over the lawn, the green would not only be gone at the location of the pool. By removing the lawn at the site, the user should simultaneously do the following:
- Pierce the outline of the pool with a sharp spade
- Carefully dig out grass roots within the marked area with the spade
- Align the straightedge
- Correct remaining unevenness until the guideline is straight at every point
- Compact the soil (use a filled water barrel, vibrating plate)
- Lay out any fleece
- Put the groundsheet over it
- Set up the pool and fill it with water
Idea: If you want to set up your pool on the lawn for a long time, you should consider concreting the area used. If you are not entirely sure about this, a platform made of wooden pallets is worthwhile. If you do not use your paddling pool for a long time, it can be dismantled without any problems.