French drains really do seem to be the workhorse for this kind of thing. I’ve tried the gravel + ground cover combo too, and yeah, it looked great for about a year... then the weeds took over and the gravel migrated everywhere. Not worth the hassle.
One thing I’ve wondered about is using permeable pavers in the main runoff area instead of just river rock. They’re pricier, but you get a stable surface that still lets water through, and you don’t have to worry about rocks shifting or plants dying off. Has anyone tried that route? I’m curious if it holds up better over time, especially with heavy pool draining.
Also, how deep did you go with your French drain? I’ve seen some folks just dig a shallow trench, but I always thought deeper (with a proper slope) made a big difference for long-term drainage.
Permeable pavers are actually what I ended up using in a section near my pool where the runoff was just too much for mulch or gravel to handle. I’ll be honest—installation was a bit of a project (lots of prep, base layers, and making sure the grade was right), but after three years, they’ve held up way better than any loose stone or ground cover I’ve tried. No more rocks drifting into the lawn or weeds popping up every month. The surface stays stable even when I have to do a heavy pool drain, and water disappears fast enough that there’s never any standing puddles.
They’re definitely pricier upfront, but for me, the lower maintenance has been worth it. I went with a concrete grid-style paver that allows grass to grow in between, so it’s not just a big slab—still looks pretty natural. Only thing is, you really have to keep up with the occasional weeding in the gaps, especially the first year while things settle in.
On the French drain depth—mine is about 18 inches deep with a 2% slope running away from the house. I know some folks go shallower, but I found that anything less than a foot deep just didn’t move water fast enough, especially during big storms or when draining the pool. The deeper trench also lets you use more gravel and a bigger pipe, which seems to help it last longer without clogging up. I did wrap the whole thing in landscape fabric to keep silt out, which is probably the most important step if you want it to keep working for years.
If you’re dealing with heavy runoff, I’d lean toward going deeper with the drain and considering those pavers for the main flow path. It’s a lot of work up front, but I haven’t had to redo anything since, which is more than I can say for my earlier attempts with gravel and ground cover...
That’s really helpful to hear about the pavers holding up over time. I’ve been eyeing those grid-style ones too, but the price tag keeps making me hesitate. Did you do the install yourself or hire it out? I’m pretty handy, but the prep work sounds like a lot, especially with all the grading and layers. I’m also curious—did you notice any issues with the grass in the gaps dying off during hot spells, or does it stay green pretty well?
On the French drain, I totally get what you mean about going deeper. I tried a shallow one (maybe 8-10 inches) a couple years back, and it clogged up way faster than I expected. The landscape fabric is a good tip—I skipped that step and definitely regretted it. Did you use the regular stuff from the garden center, or is there a heavier-duty kind that works better for drains?
I’m trying to balance cost with not having to redo everything in a year or two... sounds like the upfront work and expense might actually save money (and headaches) down the line.
- I’ve gotta say, I’m not totally sold on the landscape fabric for French drains. In my last house (built 1920s, so everything’s a project), the fabric actually clogged up with silt over time and slowed drainage. Ended up pulling it out and going with just gravel around the pipe—worked better for me, but maybe that’s just old soil conditions.
- About those grid pavers: I like the look too, but keeping grass green in the gaps was a pain during our July drought last year. Even with irrigation, it browned out. Not sure if it’s worth the hassle unless you’re really committed to maintenance.
- Sometimes upfront cost doesn’t always mean less work later... at least in my experience. Just my two cents from living with a few “permanent” solutions that still needed fixing.
I hear you on the landscape fabric—had a similar issue with it clogging up in my last place. For draining pool water, I’ve had better luck running a solid pipe out to the street curb (if your city allows it) or at least far enough downhill so it doesn’t back up into the yard. French drains are great for groundwater, but for big volumes like pool draining, I’d skip the fabric and just use gravel around a solid pipe for the main run. Less maintenance, and you don’t have to worry about silt buildup as much. Just make sure you’ve got enough slope so gravity does most of the work.
