Garden ForwardRain-resilient garden
Rainfall soaks in where it falls instead of running off or standing.
Who it is for
Gardeners with waterlogging, runoff or increasingly intense downpours.
Conditions required
Gardens where water pools, or hard surfaces shed water quickly.
Time
One to two weekends
Difficulty
moderate
Cost band
Medium
Seasonal timing
Dig in a dry spell; plant in autumn or spring
This project covers garden-scale rainfall management only. For property flood defence, structural drainage or watercourse works, consult your local authority and a qualified engineer.
Step-by-step
1.Diagnose the drainage
Fill a 30 cm hole with water and time how long it takes to empty.
2.Map where water goes
Watch the garden during rain and note inflow points and pooling.
3.Build a rain garden basin
Excavate a shallow 15–20 cm depression at least 3 m from buildings.
4.Plant for wet and dry
Use the rain-garden palette: base for wet, edges for drier conditions.
5.Make surfaces permeable
Replace sealed paving with gravel, permeable blocks or planted joints.
6.Store overflow
Add water storage upstream so heavy rain is buffered.
7.Shape contours
On a gentle slope, use a shallow swale across the contour to slow flow.
Plants for this project
Demonstration data. Climate, plant and retailer records shown here are realistic samples awaiting horticultural validation and live data connections.