The tin can trick is honestly a game changer, I was shocked how easy it was. Just dig a hole, fill it with water, and time how long it takes to drain, best 5 minutes I ever spent in the yard. My beds went from swamp to perfectly moist in about a week after I amended the soil based on the results.

Dale's been laying brick since before I was born, but that doesnt make him right about this. Veneer is a bandaid, and the moment that old brick behind it shifts or the crack spreads, youre hiding a problem instead of fixing it. Ive seen that 3,500 dollar job turn into 15 grand of repairs a few years later, so yeah, sometimes the expensive route is the honest one.

Grab a small hand wheel and skip the fancy setup, @grace_allen nailed it.