By the downspout
A barrel.
A useful habit.
A covered, screened barrel on a stable base, a fitted diverter and an accessible tap. We show you how to use it and how to empty it before freezing weather.
Rain barrels & small rain gardens
A little room
for the rain.
Catch some for the watering can.
Plant a pocket for the passing shower.
A barrel.
In the yard
A hollow.
A place to plant.
A shallow bed shaped and planted where the soil and slope suit it. We look at the water's route before deciding where a garden belongs.
Fall 2026 · Early November
Plant while the soil is workable.
Our usual fall window is September 15–November 15, with a check of soil and weather before every start. If the ground is frozen or too wet, we plan for spring.
Read the fall planting planStart with one corner of the yard.
Tell us about the downspout, the space beside it and the kind of planting you enjoy.