i also have a mesh cover that lets sunlight through. we have a ton of leaves so i usually close early, well before water temp is below 60. i was thinking about leaving our solar cover beneath the mesh cover to help block sunlight. i also considered putting it out on top of the mesh cover until late fall and again in early spring but not sure how to keep the wind from blowing it off. what do you think
Do not put the solar cover on the water and then mesh cover. You will have PH drop very quickly, if left on for a long time. I do not know about PH during real cold months, but with the solar cover on for 3 days, my PH goes from 7.5 to 7.2. I aerate back up. Maybe someone can answer the PH question during cold months. You also want to store your cover away as it will last longer.
The mesh with something on top of it is your best bet, either all fall, winter and spring before opening or only when the temperature stays warm.
My experience with friends is to close around 3rd or 4th week of September and open up last week of April, about one month prior to the holiday. Even if algae started growing in the late summer, early spring, you would definitely catch it quickly in the early spring of next year.