Why this direction works
A rain garden just below the terrace intercepts runoff before it can pool or run off-site, letting the ground soak it up and feed the planting. It reads as an attractive planted edge while doing real drainage work, so the terrace stays dry and the rain becomes a resource rather than a nuisance.
Finish and layout observations
Keep the terrace sloped to shed cleanly into the rain garden, and detail the edge so it does not undercut. Size the basin and an overflow for heavy storms, and plant it with species that tolerate both standing water and dry spells.
Circulation, drainage, and maintenance
- Grade the terrace so runoff sheds cleanly into the rain garden.
- Size the basin and an overflow for heavy storms, not just light rain.
- Choose plants that tolerate periodic standing water and dry spells.
What to verify before building
- Terrace grading that feeds the basin.
- Basin and overflow sized for real storms.
- Rain-garden planting suited to wet-and-dry cycles.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rain garden?
A shallow planted basin that catches and soaks up runoff, easing drainage and adding greenery, a widely used green-infrastructure detail. Size it and an overflow to the runoff.
Will a rain garden stay soggy?
A well-designed one drains between storms and uses species tolerant of wet and dry, so it should not stay waterlogged. Sizing and plant choice keep it healthy.
Practical next step
Start with a measured, editable estimate
Use the calculator for the concrete field that can be measured today. Keep steps, walls, utilities, drainage structures, shade supports, and other distinct construction elements separate until their real dimensions and support requirements are known.
Estimate a similar concrete featureRelated visual directions
