"One thing I'd suggest is adding some gravel or crushed stone at the bottom of your dry well to help with drainage."
Gravel definitely helps, but honestly, if your clay is really dense, gravel alone might not cut it. I ran into this issue myself—ended up installing a perforated pipe wrapped in landscape fabric leading away from the dry well. It made a huge difference. A bit more work upfront, but saved me from dealing with standing water later on... just something to consider before you start digging.
Yeah, gravel helps a bit, but honestly, if your soil is heavy clay like mine was, you'll probably need something extra. I tried going the gravel-only route first and still had drainage issues—ended up adding a French drain with perforated pipes wrapped in landscape fabric. It wasn't exactly fun digging that trench (trust me...), but it solved the flooding issue completely. Might wanna think about biting the bullet now rather than redoing it later.
"It wasn't exactly fun digging that trench (trust me...), but it solved the flooding issue completely."
Haha, I feel your pain—I spent a weekend wrestling with clay soil myself. French drains really are a lifesaver, though. Just make sure you slope it properly or you'll be back out there digging again...ask me how I know.
Clay soil is definitely a beast to work with...been there, done that, got the muddy boots to prove it. French drains are awesome, but if you're looking for something a bit simpler, you might consider redirecting the pool water into a rain garden area. Basically, you'd dig out a shallow depression filled with plants that love soaking up excess water—native grasses and shrubs usually do the trick. Looks nice, helps wildlife, and no more swampy yard situations.
Rain gardens sound interesting, but I wonder how they'd hold up long-term with the chlorine or saltwater from the pool? Wouldn't that affect the plants or soil quality eventually...anyone have experience with that? Also curious if there's a way to combine a rain garden setup with some kind of historical landscaping—maybe something that fits an older home's aesthetic without looking out of place. Has anyone tried something similar?
