Dealing with Cedar Fever and Oak Pollen in your Pool

“If your pool looks like mustard, it’s probably just the Oak trees.”

In Austin, we don’t just have four seasons; we have Cedar Season, Oak Season, and “Everything Else.” From February to May, Central Texas pools are under constant assault from yellow pollen and “oak tassels” (catkins).

The Pollen Problem

Pollen is extremely fine. It often passes right through your filter and back into the pool, making the water look hazy or even like it has mustard algae. Worse, pollen is organic matter that eventually breaks down into phosphates—algae food.

Expert Tips for Austin Pollen Season:

1. Use Skimmer Socks: These are cheap, disposable fine-mesh bags that go over your skimmer baskets. They catch the fine pollen before it ever reaches your filter. During peak Oak season, you might need to change these every single day.
2. Run Your Cleaner: Keep your robotic or suction-side cleaner running. Moving the debris to the bag or filter prevents it from breaking down on the pool floor.
3. Watch Your Phosphates: After the pollen season ends, we always recommend a phosphate treatment. High phosphates make it impossible to keep your chlorine levels stable during the coming summer heat.

Austin Detail: The “Cedar Fever” season (December–February) brings sticky resin that can gum up your filter cartridges. We recommend a deep filter clean in March once the Ashe Junipers are done doing their thing.

Tired of skimming yellow dust? Let the Matts handle the spring cleanup. We’ve got the professional-grade nets and skimmer setups to keep the pollen at bay.

Sent from my iPhone while clearing oak catkins in Lost Creek.