Guide to Leveling Your Yard for a Pool

• Cover the pool area with plastic sheets to kill grass. Then, utilize a sod cutter or grub hoe to remove and roll up the sod.
• Utilize a level to detect high and low areas. Proceed to excavate and level high spots instead of filling low regions.
• Use a rake to clear the ground of rocks and debris, and compact the soil using a rolling tamper. Apply a layer of sand over the prepared ground.

Assess for levelness to pinpoint elevated areas. Easily check for levelness without specialized tools by visually inspecting the area. Look for any sections that are higher or lower than the surrounding terrain. After addressing these sections, place a wooden plank across the area. Affix a 6 ft (1.8 m) carpenter’s level onto the plank using zip ties, and move the plank across the area to test multiple spots.

• Position the plank and level from the center of the area to its perimeter, resembling the motion of a clock's hand. Verify levelness, then pivot the plank 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m), mimicking a clock hand moving from 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock. Continue shifting the plank and checking levelness every 2 to 3 feet.

Mark elevated areas with stakes. You may notice that a large section of the area is relatively level, but one side slopes notably. Place stakes or sticks at sections with slopes or unevenness. These areas will require excavation to create a level surface for the pool.

Excavate soil rather than adding to low areas. Always remove soil from elevated areas to level them with lower sections, even if it requires extra effort. Filling low areas with soil or sand will lead to compression under the weight of the pool and water, causing future issues.

Utilize a spade or shovel to remove elevated terrain. Once high spots are identified, begin digging away the soil. Transfer the soil to a wheelbarrow for disposal, composting, or use in other gardening endeavors, such as potted plants or adjusting the grade elsewhere in the yard.

Consider renting a skid-steer loader for more challenging tasks. While leveling a 5 or 10-degree slope and removing 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) of soil manually is feasible, tackling areas with over 1 foot (30 cm) of soil removal across a wide expanse might necessitate heavy equipment rental. Skid-steer loaders typically require some training, so consult with your rental equipment provider regarding operational requirements.

• If you're uncertain about operating a skid-steer loader, contemplate hiring a professional to regrade the area. Search online for a landscape architect or licensed contractor with expertise in grading.

Regularly check for levelness to monitor your advancement. Periodically place the wooden plank and carpenter’s level on your work area. Continue excavation and monitoring until the entire work surface is level.

Use a rake to clear the area of rocks, branches, and debris. After completing the leveling process, thoroughly rake the area. Sharp debris could potentially damage the pool liner.

Compact the soil. Firm soil is essential for supporting the pool structure. Following raking, moisten the soil with a garden hose, then utilize a rolling tamper across the work area to compact the soil.

• To enhance soil compaction, run a soaker hose or sprinkler at low pressure for approximately an hour before rolling or tamping the area.
• You can rent a lawn roller from your local home improvement store. Typically, you can adjust the weight by filling the drum with water. Fill it up, then roll it over the leveled surface to compact the soil.

Apply and compact a layer of sand across the designated area. Many pool manufacturers recommend a layer of sand, but refer to your owner’s manual for confirmation. Spread a layer of sand 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) deep across the work area, then use the tamper to compress it.

• If there are areas requiring leveling, opt for crushed limestone instead of sand.
• Purchase masonry sand from a home improvement store or pool retailer to ensure uniform grain size and absence of debris. The quantity needed depends on your pool's size. For a 10-foot (3.0 m) diameter pool, you'll require approximately one ton of sand, costing between $25 and $40 (US).
• Thoroughly inspect the sand for rocks, large particles, and other debris during application.

Apply fungicide and herbicide to the area. Given the constant moisture exposure, apply fungicide before pool installation. Additionally, herbicide application prevents plant growth that could damage the pool liner.

• Chemical application rates vary, so review product coverage by volume. The quantity required also depends on your pool's area, but typically, you'll need up to 1 gallon (3.8 L) each of ready-to-use fungicide and herbicide.
• Ensure the use of petroleum-free products. Ready-to-use products requiring no dilution are more convenient than concentrates requiring water mixing.
• Delay pool installation until 2 weeks after applying fungicide or other chemicals.
• Consider covering the area with a tarp to safeguard chemicals from moisture and sunlight during work.

Place plastic sheets over the area two weeks prior to kill grass. Covering the grass with plastic sheets or tarps for a fortnight will effectively eliminate grass growth. This facilitates easier sod removal. Lay plastic sheets over the pool installation area, securing them with heavy objects like rocks, bricks, or cinder blocks along the edges.

Remove sod after rainfall or thorough watering. If the area isn't already cleared, sod removal precedes ground leveling. Optimal sod removal occurs the day after heavy rain. In the absence of rain, adequately water the area in the days leading up to sod removal. Dry sod is more challenging to remove.

• Avoid using a power sod cutter on soaked soil.

Consider renting a sod cutter for convenience. While manual sod removal is feasible, a sod cutter is ideal for larger turf areas. You can easily rent a power sod cutter from your local home improvement store.

• Ensure the area is clear of potential hazards like sprinklers, hoses, toys, and other obstructions before operating the sod cutter. Look out for cable wires, landscape lighting wires, and sprinkler pipes, which may be just beneath the sod's surface.
• Familiarize yourself with the user manual and seek guidance from the equipment manager at your rental store regarding operating instructions specific to your machine.

Opt for a grub hoe if you prefer to avoid equipment rental. If power equipment isn't your preference, manual labor is an alternative. Begin by scoring the sod with a spade to divide it into sections, then utilize a hoe and shovel to excavate each section. Remove a minimum of 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) of the work area's surface.

• Enlist the help of friends or family to expedite the process. If needed, entice them with promises of pool time!

Roll up and dispose of the removed sod. A power cutter facilitates sod removal in manageable sections that can be rolled up and transported to a wheelbarrow or lawn bags. Manual sod removal is messier, requiring shoveling of the sod into your chosen receptacle. Once completed, you can leave lawn bags for curbside pickup or incorporate the sod (or portions of it) into your compost pile.

• If the rolls of sod from the power cutter are intact, you can consider laying them on a bare patch elsewhere in your yard. Ensure the bare patch is well-watered, fertilized, and supplemented with compost if the soil requires conditioning. Lay down the sod and water it daily for 1 to 2 weeks.

Review local building codes. Aim for the flattest available spot while adhering to local regulations. Verify if your pool must maintain specific distances from property lines, septic tanks, and roads.

• Contact your local recorder's or assessor's office for property line information.
• Search online or consult your city's, state's, or province’s government website for relevant codes.
• If applicable, review your homeowner’s association bylaws.
• Ensure your pool is not positioned near an easement or setback where utility workers may require access to power or other utility lines.
• If your property borders a forest, verify if your pool placement may impact conservation areas.
• If excavation equipment will be necessary, select a spot accessible to machinery.

Avoid underground utilities and overhead power lines. If unsure of underground gas lines or cables, contact your utility provider. Also, ensure your chosen spot is clear of overhead power cables.

Avoid proximity to trees and stumps. Placing the pool under a tree increases debris accumulation, potentially impacting pool maintenance. Additionally, tree roots may hinder site leveling. Even tree stumps pose removal challenges.

• Positioning the pool beyond a tree's outer branches should suffice for established trees. For younger trees, calculate root system size for precaution. Young tree roots may extend up to 38 times the trunk diameter. A 6-inch (15 cm) trunk could yield roots spanning over 19 feet (5.8 m).
• Typically, older trees' roots extend as far as the canopy.

Assess area drainage. Ensure adequate drainage in the pool placement area to prevent waterlogging issues. Observe post-rain water drainage. Avoid areas prone to prolonged waterlogging, or implement water diversion strategies prior to pool installation.

Define a work area with a diameter 2 feet (61 cm) larger than the pool. After selecting a suitable location, mark the central point with a stake. Determine the pool's radius by dividing its diameter by 2, then add 1 foot (30 cm) to the radius. Use a string tied to the stake to outline the work area's circumference. Mark the perimeter with stakes or chalk.

• For oval-shaped pools, utilize a measuring tape to trace the dimensions onto the work area, ensuring a perimeter 1 foot (30 cm) longer than the pool on all sides.

• Level
• Wood plank
• Measuring tape
• Lawn stakes
• Grub hoe
• Spade
• Shovel
• Wheelbarrow
• Rake
• Sod cutter (if needed)
• Lawn roller
• Herbicide and fungicide
• Sand