How to Abandon an In-Ground Pool

Allow the in-ground pool to fill with rainwater if you want to have a natural-looking pond in your backyard. The pool will fill quickly or slowly, depending on the amount of rain in your climate. If you want to use the abandoned pool as a natural pond, buy pond vegetation and goldfish to place in the pond. To prevent the water from becoming stagnant, install a water pump and filter, which you can buy at a store that sells pond supplies. The filter will remove contaminants from the water while the pump will keep it circulating. Because of the size of the pool, you may require more than one pump.

Order a dump truck load of dirt for the pool if you do not want to build a natural pond. Before filling the pool with dirt, drill several holes in it to assist with drainage during rainfall. You can drill the drainage holes with a jackhammer, which you can rent from an equipment rental center. When you're ready to fill the pool with dirt, rent a small loader to make the job easier than filling the pool by hand.

Plant a flower, vegetable or herb garden in the new dirt in the pool. Depending on the look you wish to achieve, you can bring the dirt up to ground level or leave it below ground level. If the dirt is low, build a staircase out of flat rocks to help you climb in and out of the area. Avoid planting large plants, such as trees, as their roots will eventually reach the pool foundation and could stop growing.