Rain garden's a cool idea, but how much water are we talking about draining here? If it's a whole pool, even a shallow garden might overflow unless you've got a pretty big area to work with. Also, how close is your yard to neighbors or structures? Last thing you want is accidentally redirecting a mini river into someone else's basement (been there, done that... not fun). Maybe pairing the rain garden with some strategic grading could help channel the water safely away?
Rain gardens are definitely handy, but you're right to question capacity—pools hold way more water than most realize. I've seen some success pairing rain gardens with gentle grading and a shallow swale to direct overflow safely. Worth considering if space is tight...
"I've seen some success pairing rain gardens with gentle grading and a shallow swale to direct overflow safely."
Yeah, this makes sense. I drained my pool last summer without much planning (rookie mistake, haha), and ended up with a mini swamp for days. A friend helped me dig a shallow swale afterward, and now heavy rains aren't nearly as messy. Definitely recommend giving that a try if you've got limited space...worked pretty well for me.
I drained my pool last summer without much planning (rookie mistake, haha), and ended up with a mini swamp for days.
Haha, been there with the accidental swamp—my backyard looked like a historical reenactment of the Everglades for a week. Glad the swale worked out for you, though. Might have to try pairing it with a rain garden next time...sounds promising!
I feel your pain, haha. Last time I drained mine, I accidentally created a mosquito paradise—neighbors weren't thrilled. I've since learned to drain it gradually over a few days, letting the water soak in slowly instead of flooding everything at once. Also, hooking up a hose to redirect water toward flower beds or trees helps a ton. Plants love it, and no more swampy flashbacks...mostly.
