Info hub · Water gardens · Updated 2026-10-03
Rain garden, bog garden, or koi pond: which fits your yard?
They all use water differently. Choose around the ground conditions and the kind of garden you want.
A rain garden manages temporary runoff
A rain garden is a shallow planted depression that receives runoff and drains between storms. It needs room, soil that can support the design, and a planned overflow. A hole that stays full is not a working rain garden.
A bog garden supports wet-soil plants
A bog garden is built to stay moist for plants that want wet roots. It is not a place to park water against a foundation.
A pond is a maintained water feature
A decorative pond holds water on purpose. A koi pond also needs depth, circulation, filtration, and regular care. Keep stormwater that carries soil or lawn treatments out of it. If the goal is the sound of water, a recirculating pondless waterfall may fit better.
Common questions
Can any wet patch become a rain garden?
Only after checking soil, runoff, placement, and overflow. Some yards need grading or a conventional drain instead.
Can a koi pond double as a storm drain?
No. Runoff can bring sediment and lawn chemicals and change the water the fish depend on. We plan drainage and ponds separately.