Why this direction works
Directing pad runoff into a shallow planted basin lets the ground soak it up and feed nearby plants, easing local drainage instead of shedding water to a drain or the lawn. The rain garden reads as an attractive green edge while doing real work, so the pad drains better and looks better at once.
Finish and layout observations
Keep the pad a simple working surface sloped to feed the planted edge, detailed to shed cleanly into the basin. Size and plant the rain garden for the runoff it receives, with species that handle wet and dry.
Circulation, drainage, and maintenance
- Grade the pad so runoff sheds cleanly into the rain-garden edge.
- Size the basin and an overflow for heavy rain, not just light showers.
- Choose plants that tolerate periodic standing water and dry spells.
What to verify before building
- Pad 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 edge on a pad?
A shallow planted basin that catches and soaks up runoff, easing drainage and adding greenery, a common green-infrastructure detail. Size it and an overflow to the runoff it receives.
Will the rain garden stay wet?
A well-designed one drains between storms and uses species that tolerate both 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 shed padRelated visual directions
