Surviving Cottonwood Season: Pool Tips for Utah

If you own a pool in Utah, you know the drill. Sometime around mid-June, the cottonwood trees start releasing their fluffy white seeds, and they end up everywhere — especially in your pool. Peak season usually lasts 2-4 weeks, and during that time, your pool maintenance basically doubles.

Why Cottonwood Seeds Are So Bad for Pools

Cottonwood fluff isn't just annoying — it actually causes real problems. The seeds are light enough to pass through some skimmer baskets and enter your pump. They can wrap around pump impellers, clog filter cartridges, and reduce water flow. Heavy cottonwood loads can fill a skimmer basket in a single afternoon.

When cottonwood seeds decompose in the water, they also become food for algae and bacteria, increasing your sanitizer demand.

How to Deal With It

• Skim the surface daily (or even twice daily) during peak weeks
• Empty skimmer baskets every day — a full basket means zero surface suction
• Add a skimmer sock over your basket to catch the fine fluff that passes through the regular basket
• Run your pump longer than normal (12+ hours) to keep the surface moving and pulling seeds into the skimmer
• Backwash or clean your filter more frequently — cottonwood clogs filters fast
• Consider a temporary floating pool skimmer (like a SkimmerMotion) for extra surface cleaning
• Increase your chlorine slightly to compensate for the higher organic load

The Worst Areas in Utah

Not all neighborhoods are equal when it comes to cottonwood. The worst areas tend to be older neighborhoods with mature cottonwood trees, especially along waterways and canals. Bountiful, parts of Salt Lake City (Sugar House, Millcreek, Holladay), Provo, and areas near the Jordan River tend to get hit hardest.

If you're in one of these areas, consider adding a mid-week service visit during the 2-3 worst weeks. It's cheaper than dealing with a clogged pump or a green pool.