Agreed, rainwater setups are definitely simpler to manage. I've found pine mulch works fine if you refresh it annually and keep an eye on drainage. Greywater systems can be effective, but the upfront plumbing hassle isn't always worth it for smaller properties...
"Greywater systems can be effective, but the upfront plumbing hassle isn't always worth it for smaller properties..."
Totally agree with this point—looked into greywater myself and the cost-benefit just didn't add up for our modest yard. Rain barrels were way easier to set up, and honestly, they're pretty low-maintenance once you get a decent filter screen. Only issue I've had is algae buildup in summer...anyone found a cheap fix for that? Heard copper fittings help but haven't tested it yet.
I've had decent luck with copper fittings, actually. Dropped a few small copper pipe scraps into my barrel last summer and noticed way less algae growth. Not a perfect fix, but definitely cheap and easy enough to try out. Also, keeping the barrel shaded helps a ton—mine used to sit in direct sun and algae went nuts...moved it under an overhang and it's been way better since.
