I’ve had plywood sheets propped up in weird places for so long they’re practically part of the landscaping now.
- Been there—had a “temporary” tarp over my side yard for two years before I finally caved and did it right.
- Dry wells can actually work, but only if your soil drains well. Clay? Forget it, you’ll just have a soggy pit.
- Underground drainage is a bigger upfront cost, but I’ve seen it solve chronic flooding for good. Not always cheap, but less hassle long-term.
- If you want low-key, try a rain barrel or two to slow the flow. Not perfect, but it’s less invasive than digging up the yard.
- Never had city pushback, but one neighbor did grumble about “redirected water.” Just keep it on your property and you’re usually fine.
Funny how “temporary” solutions just become part of the scenery, right? I’ve been guilty of that with old pallets. About drainage—has anyone tried using a swale or shallow trench lined with gravel? I’m curious if that’s less disruptive than full underground piping but still effective. Also, does anyone know if chlorine from pool water messes with plants if you direct it toward a garden bed? I’ve always wondered if that’s a bad idea or just overthinking it.
- Swales and gravel trenches definitely work for surface drainage. They’re a lot less invasive than digging up the whole yard for pipes. Just make sure you’ve got enough slope so water actually moves—flat spots turn into little ponds.
- Swales can look pretty natural if you plant them up, but they do take up some space. I’ve seen people use them along fence lines or property edges.
- On the chlorine thing: pool water with a lot of chlorine will mess up most plants, especially if you dump it all at once. If it’s just trace amounts (like after the chlorine’s had time to dissipate), it’s usually fine, but I wouldn’t risk dumping fresh pool water on your veggies or anything delicate.
- I’ve let my pool sit for a few days before draining, and that seemed to help. Plants didn’t look any worse for it.
- If you’re worried, maybe just direct the runoff away from garden beds and toward grass or gravel areas.
Honestly, “temporary” fixes are half my yard at this point... but hey, if it works, right?
