- Totally agree on the flexible hose idea—saved my grass big time last summer. I actually grabbed a super long one from the hardware store and snaked it around to the side yard, away from any flower beds.
- One thing I learned (the hard way) is to move the hose around every hour or so. Even with good drainage, too much water in one spot can still get messy.
- Another trick I stumbled on: if you've got a slight slope, use gravity to your advantage. Position the hose downhill and let nature do most of the work. Way easier than constantly checking if it's draining properly.
- Also, watch out for neighbors' yards... accidentally flooded my neighbor's veggie patch once. Awkward conversation followed.
- If you're feeling creative, you could even channel some of that water into a temporary rain garden or shallow trench lined with gravel—helps disperse water evenly and looks pretty cool too.
The flexible hose works fine, but honestly, if you're draining a decent-sized pool regularly, you might want to consider something a bit more permanent. I put in a simple French drain a few years back—just gravel and perforated pipe—and it handles water beautifully. No more babysitting the hose or flooding the neighbor's tomatoes (been there, done that... awkward indeed). It's a weekend project, but totally worth it if you're planning to stay put for a while.
French drain sounds smart, but does it hold up well over time? I've seen some gravel setups get clogged after a few seasons... did you add any kind of filter fabric or just wing it?
I've got a French drain around my historic property, and honestly, it's held up better than people warned me it would. The key is definitely using the right filter fabric—don't skip that step or just wing it. Gravel alone can clog pretty fast, but a good quality landscaping fabric wrapped around the pipe keeps most of the dirt out. Also, I've found periodic maintenance helps—just checking every couple years to clear any buildup makes a huge difference long-term.
Good points on the fabric—definitely makes a difference. I've had mine in for about 8 years now, and it's still draining like a champ. I was skeptical at first because everyone kept saying it'd clog up fast, but honestly, with decent fabric and a quick check every couple years, it's been pretty low-maintenance. Glad to hear yours is holding up too...nice when something actually works as advertised, right?
