Not a bad idea, but honestly, plastic sheets always seem like a quick fix that turns into a pain later. I've flipped a few houses where the previous owners did exactly that, and trust me—pulling up old, brittle plastic isn't fun...or pretty. A shallow swale with river rocks and some grasses or wildflowers could look great, handle drainage naturally, and boost curb appeal. Win-win all around.
Totally agree on ditching the plastic sheets—ever tried wrestling with one of those brittle, cracked tarps after a couple seasons in the sun? Not exactly my idea of weekend fun. A swale with river rocks sounds pretty solid, but have you thought about adding a French drain underneath it? It's basically a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that moves water away underground. That way, you get the natural look you're after and some extra peace of mind if you're draining a lot of water at once (like emptying an entire pool).
Also, grasses and wildflowers are great, but just make sure you pick something hardy enough to handle occasional flooding. Learned that one the hard way when I had to redo a client's landscaping after their delicate flowers turned into sad little mud pies...not my proudest moment.
French drain is definitely the way to go here—I've recommended them a few times for clients dealing with similar drainage headaches. The swale and river rocks will look great, but without something underneath to channel that water away, you're still risking soggy spots or erosion issues down the line. And trust me, nothing ruins a beautifully landscaped yard faster than unexpected mud pits or washed-out flower beds.
Also, good call on hardy plants. I've seen too many homeowners choose delicate ornamentals that look amazing at first...until the first heavy rainstorm turns everything into a sad mess. Native grasses, sedges, and even some shrubs like dwarf willows or dogwoods can handle occasional flooding and still look fantastic year-round. Plus, they usually require less maintenance overall, which is always a bonus in my book.
"Native grasses, sedges, and even some shrubs like dwarf willows or dogwoods can handle occasional flooding and still look fantastic year-round."
Couldn't agree more on this. Had a similar issue with a pool drainage project last year—thought the river rocks alone would do the trick. Nope. Ended up installing a French drain after a heavy rain turned my client's yard into a swampy mess. Those hardy natives you mentioned saved the day, though...they bounced back fast and kept the yard looking sharp. Good luck with your setup, sounds like you're on the right track.
We had a similar headache when we drained our pool last spring—thought we were being smart by routing the water into a gravel pit. Turns out, gravel alone couldn't handle that much water at once...ended up with a mini pond for a week. 😅 Eventually, we added a rain garden filled with native plants like sedges and dwarf dogwoods, and it made a huge difference. They soaked up the excess water surprisingly fast, plus they looked way nicer than plain old rocks. French drains are definitely solid, but pairing them with some thirsty plants can be even better. Might be worth considering if you haven't already settled on your final plan. Good luck!
