Having a backyard pool provides a great way to cool off in summer and have fun in the water. When you're a pool owner, you'll also need to keep safety in mind. Here are a few quick and easy safety tips to help you do help you keep your pool fun and secure:

Put up barriers

Having pool barriers can significantly reduce the risk of having someone fall into your pool, including pets. Consider installing a fence around your pool, even if your yard is fenced in. These safety fences should be a minimum of four feet high to provide enough protection. Make sure kids and pets won't be able to climb over your safety fence or jump over it. If your safety fence has a gate, it should be one with a latch and can close on its own. If not, ensure your pool gate stays shut and latched at all times.

Install a safety cover

Your pool might be covered and empty when it's cool out, but you might want to have a cover for it in the summer too. A pool safety cover allows you to conveniently and easily cover your pool to keep kids out of it when adults aren't around. Use your pool safety cover whenever your kids are outside without supervision.

Add anti-entrapment drain covers

Having anti-entrapment drain covers in your pool helps prevent swimmers from potentially being pulled underwater. In addition to installing these covers, keep kids and pets away from drains at all times when they're in or near the pool.

Keep life jackets nearby

Life jackets aren't just for swimming or boating in rivers, oceans, and lakes. Keep life jackets near your pool for anyone who doesn't know how to swim. Wearing a life jacket helps protect these individuals from drowning. Store life jackets in a place where they're easy to reach before getting into the pool.

If you want a pet-safe houseplant to add color to your indoor space, consider the polka dot plant. As the name suggests, the polka dot plant has delicately speckled leaves in high-contrast combinations of colors. You can find them in pink, red, and white, and their compact growth habit makes them easy to plant several colors together in the same pot. So how do you take care of a polka dot plant? Here are the basics you'll need to know:

Lighting

Polka dot plants can be fussy about lighting, but once you find the perfect spot they will thrive. Place your polka dot plant somewhere with bright, indirect light but not direct sun. A few feet away from the south or east-facing window is usually perfect for keeping the plant happy. While it can survive in low light conditions, the intense color will quickly fade from the leaves and the stems will become stretched out. Keep your polka dot plant vibrant and colorful by finding the perfect light.

Water

Polka dot plants need regular watering to keep the soil moist. This plant is a great choice for plant owners who tend to overwater their plants, as the polka dot will want a drink as soon as the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Temperature & Humidity

Proper temperature and moisture levels are crucial to a healthy polka dot plant. This plant likes to stay warmer than some other popular houseplants, preferring their environment not to drop below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Boosting the humidity will help them thrive, either with a humidifier, pebble tray, or regular misting. Polka dot plants make excellent residents for terrariums and miniature greenhouses where they can live at moderated temperatures and humidity levels.

Pruning

Polka dot plants require regular pruning to stay bushy. Experts recommend pinching off the top two leaves from every stem every few weeks to promote denser growth. With the right conditions, this plant is a quick grower, so you don't need to worry about pruning too often.

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