BLOG

Once a pool is removed, the reclaimed space doesn't have to become a simple flat lawn if you're looking for something more distinctive. Two popular options among DFW homeowners are creating a sunken garden or a dedicated fire pit gathering area, both of which can take creative advantage of the specific characteristics of a former pool site.

Why the Former Pool Footprint Offers Unique Possibilities

Because a pool occupies a defined, often substantial footprint with a naturally excavated area beneath the surface, the reclaimed space offers design possibilities that a standard flat yard doesn't necessarily present, particularly for features that benefit from some intentional variation in level or a defined, enclosed feeling.

What a Sunken Garden Involves

A sunken garden takes advantage of a slightly lower elevation, sometimes achieved by not fully filling a pool's excavation to standard grade, to create a garden space with a naturally enclosed, intimate feel. This requires careful planning during the demolition and backfill process to achieve the specific elevation and drainage needed for this design.

Coordinating Sunken Garden Plans With Your Demolition Project

If you're interested in a sunken garden design, it's important to discuss this vision with your demolition contractor before backfill begins, since standard practice typically involves filling to match the surrounding grade. A sunken garden design requires intentional planning to leave the appropriate elevation while still ensuring proper drainage and stability.

Drainage Considerations for Sunken Designs

A sunken garden area needs particularly careful drainage planning, since its lower elevation could otherwise become a collection point for water rather than a functional garden space. Proper grading needs to account for water flow even within an intentionally lower area.

What a Fire Pit Gathering Area Involves

Creating a dedicated fire pit area in the former pool space often involves a defined, sometimes slightly recessed or bordered section with appropriate hardscaping, gravel, pavers, or another fire-safe surface, surrounding a fire pit feature, creating a natural gathering spot distinct from the rest of the yard.

Safety Considerations for Fire Pit Areas

If you're planning a fire pit feature, appropriate clearance from structures, fencing, and vegetation matters for safety, along with considering any local regulations or HOA guidelines specific to outdoor fire features that might apply to your property.

Combining Elements: Sunken Fire Pit Areas

Some homeowners combine both concepts, creating a slightly sunken, defined gathering space specifically designed around a fire pit feature, taking advantage of the former pool's excavated footprint to create a naturally enclosed, intimate outdoor living area.

Working Backward From Your Design Vision

If you have a specific vision for either a sunken garden or fire pit gathering area, working backward from that design to inform how your demolition project handles backfill, grading, and elevation gives you the best chance of achieving your intended result, rather than filling to standard grade and then trying to retrofit a design afterward.

Practical Considerations Beyond Aesthetics

Beyond the visual appeal, consider how you'll actually use the space, seating capacity for a fire pit area, planting choices for a sunken garden suited to your specific sun exposure, and how the feature integrates with the rest of your yard's layout and traffic flow.

Landscaping and Hardscaping Coordination

Once your demolition contractor has prepared the site according to your design vision, coordinating with a landscaping or hardscaping professional for the actual garden plantings or fire pit installation completes the transformation from former pool site to your envisioned outdoor feature.

Tips for Planning This Type of Backyard Transformation

• Share your specific design vision, sunken garden, fire pit area, or both, with your demolition contractor before backfill begins.
• Discuss drainage planning specifically for any intentionally lower-elevation design.
• Research fire pit safety clearances and any applicable local or HOA regulations if that's part of your plan.
• Coordinate timing between demolition completion and your landscaping or hardscaping installation.