Why this direction works
Greenhouses shed a lot of water, and directing that runoff into a shallow planted basin lets the ground absorb it while feeding nearby plants. The rain garden reads as an attractive green edge while doing real drainage work, so the greenhouse pad stays dry and the runoff becomes useful.
Finish and layout observations
Keep the pad a simple working surface sloped to feed the planted edge, and detail the slab so it sheds 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 watering and storms.
- 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 runoff.
- Rain-garden planting suited to wet-and-dry cycles.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rain-garden edge?
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 soggy?
A well-designed one drains between waterings 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
