Get a solid winter cover with a cable and winch.

Solid covers with a cable-and-winch system are the best bet for above-ground pools. Mesh covers let in too much debris and sunlight, which means more algae and more chemicals when you open the pool in spring. A heavy-duty solid cover keeps everything out, and if you pair it with a small pump to remove rainwater, you basically get a no-effort winter.

Cheap tarps with rocks or concrete blocks are a nightmare. They blow off, rip, and leave you scooping out a swamp in April. Spend the extra $50 on a proper cover with a tight cable — it’ll last three winters, not one. Mesh is fine if you live somewhere that never rains, but that’s not most people.

Your spring self will thank you when you pull off a clean cover instead of a biohazard.