If you’re open to a bit of a project, I’ve had success with a temporary “drainage path” using landscape fabric and river stones. Here’s what worked for me:
1. Lay down a wide strip of landscape fabric from the pool area to wherever you want the water to go—think of it like a slip-n-slide for water.
2. Layer river stones or medium-sized gravel on top. The fabric keeps mud from mixing in, and the stones help slow down the flow, so you don’t end up with a mini swamp.
3. Angle the path toward a natural slope or the curb, if that’s allowed where you live.
I know hoses are easier, but sometimes they just dump too much water in one spot. Breaking up the flow over a wider area can really help. Also, if you’re worried about your plants, I’ve used old towels or burlap sacks at the end of the run to diffuse the last bit of water—kind of ugly but surprisingly effective.
About the dechlorinators, I totally agree—the “natural” ones never did much for me either. Maybe it’s just our tap water, who knows...
River stones and landscape fabric definitely look tidy, but I’ve always wondered if that’s a bit more work than needed for a seasonal pool drain. A couple of things I’d question:
- Have you ever had issues with the stones shifting or the fabric getting clogged after a few uses? I tried something similar and ended up with a muddy mess after a big rain.
- I usually lean toward using a soaker hose to spread the water over a larger area—less setup, and you can snake it through garden beds where plants actually want the extra moisture.
- Not sure about burlap sacks at the end... I get the idea, but they can get pretty gross fast.
Curious if anyone’s tried just digging a shallow trench and filling it with mulch? Seems less permanent but still helps with absorption.
Mulch in a shallow trench actually makes a lot of sense, especially if you’re dealing with a historic yard where you don’t want to commit to anything too permanent. I’ve seen folks do this and it works decently for seasonal drainage—plus, it breaks down over time and feeds the soil. The only thing I’d watch for is how quickly the mulch compacts or washes away after heavy rain. Stones and fabric always look neat at first, but in my experience, they’re more hassle than they’re worth for something temporary. I’m with you on the burlap sacks—those things get funky fast.
I’ve actually tried the mulch-in-trench method at a few properties, and it’s hit or miss depending on your slope and how much water you’re moving. If you’re draining a full pool, even slowly, I’d be careful—mulch can float and end up all over the yard. Stones are a pain to remove later, but I’ve had luck with using perforated drain pipe laid just under the surface for temporary projects. It’s not permanent, but it handles volume better than mulch alone. Never had much patience for burlap sacks either—
is right.those things get funky fast
Perforated drain pipe is definitely the way to go if you want to avoid a mess. I’ve tried the mulch trick too, and yeah, it just floats away if there’s any real volume. Here’s what’s worked for me: dig a shallow trench from the pool to your lowest point, lay in the perforated pipe, and cover it with just enough soil to keep it in place. If you want to slow the flow, you can add a few bags of gravel at the outflow end. It’s not pretty, but it keeps the water moving without turning your yard into a swamp. And I agree—
—burlap sacks are more trouble than they’re worth.those things get funky fast
