Totally get the struggle—mulch basins can be tricky to dial in. Did you find that tweaking the slope helped much, or was it mostly about soil type? Either way, props for sticking with it... that payoff feeling really is worth it.
"Did you find that tweaking the slope helped much, or was it mostly about soil type?"
Yeah, slope definitely made a difference for me, but honestly soil type was the bigger headache. Had to mix in some sand to get decent drainage... messy job but worth it in the end.
Interesting you mention sand—I had the opposite issue. My soil drained way too fast, so I ended up mixing in compost to slow things down a bit. Slope adjustments helped somewhat, but honestly, getting the soil balance right was the real game changer for me. Did you find sand alone was enough, or did you have to add anything else to keep things stable? Curious how it holds up long-term...
Sand alone wasn't quite enough for me either—ended up mixing in some gravel to help with stability and drainage. Compost helped initially, but long-term, I found gravel did a better job of preventing compaction and keeping the flow consistent. Plus, it's held up surprisingly well over a couple years now. Curious though, anyone else notice if different greywater sources (like laundry vs shower) affect soil differently over time?
"Curious though, anyone else notice if different greywater sources (like laundry vs shower) affect soil differently over time?"
Yeah, I've definitely noticed differences. Laundry water tends to have more detergents and sometimes salts from fabric softeners, which can gradually build up and affect soil structure—especially clay-heavy soils. Shower water seems gentler overall, less buildup, but can get a bit greasy if you're using lots of soaps or conditioners. I ended up tweaking my laundry detergent to something eco-friendly and low-sodium... soil's been happier since then.
