Question

pool  

pool   Hi, we just had an above ground pool put in and to level our yard they had to go down about 2' and now on the one side, when it rains all the water just lays there and I was just wonder if I can just fill it in with topsoil but the pool would be about 1 1/2 to 2' underground. Will the pool rust out If we do that and If you have any other suggestions place feel free to let me know my yard is a big mud hole right and i'd do just about anything to get my grass back.

Answer
Hi, and thanks for the question.

I always find it difficult to deal with drainage when I just can't see the whole yard, but I will give a few comments and suggestions for you.

First off, I am surprised the company that installed the pool did not deal with this on the install? That is quite a bit of water. Drainage should be one of the first things considered in any landscaping project. Water from rains, as well as splashing over the edge is normal to sit around a pool. Usually, they use the backfill to re-grade so the water runs away from areas like that.

What happened to the backfill when they excavated?

When you fill in that area, build up the soil on the top portion of the slope to create a berm. The berm should redirect a lot of the runoff water to one side (or both), whichever is more practical. This will solve much of the problem right off the start.

Some people will install fabric on top of the dirt, and gravel or decorative rock to make it look nicer and allow the water to drain away easier. Drain tile, sump pumps, and french drains, have also been used around pools. gravel rings are common, but you still need somewhere to grade the water away. Can you send a picture of the whole yard?

Also be aware that some areas may have restrictive building codes on what you can legally do around a pool.

Plants or shrubs may or may not do well depending on how they react to the chlorine content and chemicals in the water from the pool.  

With that small slope you have, you could consider a rock garden and a few small trees or shubs planted a little higher up the hill away from the pool. That could look quite nice and deal with the ripped up lawn problem as well. If you plant trees, make sure the root systems will not extend to the pool causing damage.  

You also may want to contact the manufacturer to find out if there are any rusting, or rotting problems with the materials in that model. They should give suggestions or direction to you on how to deal with your problem. They may suggest a protective liner between the backfill and the pool itself.

Good luck to you and enjoy your pool.