I feel you on the grass—mine looked like it had gotten dumped and then trampled by a marching band after my first attempt at draining. I tried doing the slow drain into a patch of ornamental grasses, thinking they’d soak it up and maybe even thrive. Instead, it turned into this muddy mess that basically became a spa for every mosquito in a five-mile radius. The chlorine thing is such a catch-22. If you wait for it to dissipate, you’re stuck with stagnant water and all the bugs that come with it. But if you drain too soon, your landscaping takes the hit.
One thing that sort of worked for me: I rigged up an old soaker hose to the end of my pump and snaked it through different parts of the yard while draining over several hours. It didn’t solve everything, but at least I avoided a total swamp situation. Still, if anyone figures out how to teleport pool water straight to the sewer, I’m all ears...
I’ve wrestled with the same mess—my backyard still has a patch that looks like a failed rice paddy. Have you looked into using rain barrels or big storage totes to catch some of the water as you drain? It’s not perfect, but spreading it out over a few days helped me avoid the mud pit. Also, I wonder if running the hose out to the driveway and letting it trickle toward the street would be less damaging than soaking the lawn. Not sure if that’s allowed everywhere, though...
Funny you mention the rice paddy look—I’ve had the same thing going on by my back gate for years. I tried the storage tote method last summer, but honestly, it was more hassle than I expected. Those things get heavy fast, and lugging them around left me with a sore back for days. Maybe I just need a better system or sturdier containers.
I did once run a hose out to the curb, but my neighbor raised an eyebrow about “pool chemicals in the street.” Not sure if that’s actually against any rules here, but it made me second guess it. I’ve heard some towns will fine you if they catch you draining into storm drains, especially if your pool’s got chlorine or salt in it. Anyone ever gotten dinged for that?
One trick that worked okay for me was poking extra holes in a cheap garden soaker hose and snaking it through the flower beds. It slowed down the water enough that it didn’t flood one spot, and my perennials got a good drink out of it. Of course, you end up with some soggy patches if you’re not careful.
Curious if anyone’s tried digging a shallow trench to redirect the flow? I keep thinking about doing that—just not sure if it’s worth the effort or if I’ll regret having a mini canal running through the yard all season...
- Had the same “mini canal” idea a couple years back. Dug a shallow trench behind my garage, but honestly, it turned into a muddy mess for weeks. The grass never really grew back right either—looked like a gopher had moved in.
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I’ve heard stories about fines too, but never met anyone who actually got one. Still, I’d rather not risk it.“I did once run a hose out to the curb, but my neighbor raised an eyebrow about ‘pool chemicals in the street.’”
- The soaker hose trick is clever. I tried something similar with an old garden hose and drilled holes, but ended up with puddles in weird spots. Maybe I just didn’t space them out enough.
- Ever thought about using rain barrels to catch some of the water? Not sure if it’d help with a whole pool, but might slow things down.
Curious—has anyone tried those gravel-filled trenches (French drains)? Wondering if they’re worth the hassle or just another backyard project that sounds better than it is...
French drains get a lot of hype, but honestly, they’re not always the magic fix people hope for. I’ve put in a few over the years, and they can work well—if you’ve got the right slope and soil. But if your yard’s mostly clay or doesn’t drain naturally, you might just end up with a soggy gravel pit. Maintenance is another thing folks don’t always mention. Those trenches can clog up with silt and roots over time, and then you’re back to square one.
“Dug a shallow trench behind my garage, but honestly, it turned into a muddy mess for weeks.”
That’s pretty common if the trench isn’t lined or if there’s nowhere for the water to go. Sometimes people skip the fabric liner or don’t pitch it enough, and then it just sits there. I’ve seen yards where the grass never really comes back either—especially if you’re dealing with heavy foot traffic or pets.
About rain barrels: they’re great for garden watering, but like you said, not much help when you’re draining thousands of gallons from a pool. You’d need a whole fleet of them just to make a dent.
The soaker hose idea is clever in theory, but unless you’ve got super sandy soil, it usually just creates puddles in random spots. Spacing and water pressure make a big difference, but even then it’s hit or miss.
One thing I’ve seen work (if your city allows it) is connecting a temporary sump pump to your sewer cleanout. It’s not legal everywhere, but it keeps the chemicals out of the street and avoids flooding your yard. Just have to check local codes first.
If you’re set on a French drain, maybe try a short test section before committing to the whole project. Sometimes that’s enough to see if your soil will cooperate—or if you’ll just end up with another muddy mess.