As custom home builders take more interest in maintaining a positive environmental footprint, rain gardens have become a clever option to achieve landscaping success. While many opt for rain barrels beneath downspouts, rain gardens are a much more aesthetically pleasing. This method of collecting rainwater and slowly dispersing it to surrounding plants can easily be incorporated within the yard of a custom-built home. Even better? The steps from collection to absorption involve minimal manual intervention once established. Luxury homes that include a rain garden designate an outdoor space purposed to tolerate heavy rainfall or runoff. Once built, a rain garden will serve as a natural filter as water is captured by native, water-tolerant vegetation to then allow a slow absorption into the surrounding soil. The key to success is placement. Rain gardens should be positioned in low-lying areas of the yard, typically in those spots where water pools after a downpour. There are many benefits to a rain garden: Environmentally Friendly: As the rain garden collects runoff, it also intercepts pollutants before they can reach local water sources. Wildlife Watering Holes: Because a rain garden’s plants thrive year-round, pollinators will be popular. Bees, butterflies, and birds will be attracted to...