UK Garden Design: Thriving in Deluge

Written By Melanie Hick

A thunderstorm breaks over dry terrain. 

As our British weather patterns become increasingly wet (1), with periods of intense rainfall becoming more common, managing water in our gardens has never been more crucial.

In Australia, where I hail from, the land of drought and flooding rain, we are well used to sudden downpours. The north of the country in the tropics has the “wet” season and the south is increasingly experiencing cycles La Niña and El Niño. Interchanging dry and extremely wet weather has been part of life on the southern continent for as long as I have been alive.

The good news? With clever design and proper planning, your garden can not only cope with deluge and flooding rain, but actually thrive in these conditions.

Understanding the Challenge

Recent years have seen UK gardens face unprecedented rainfall patterns (1):

  • Flash flooding events becoming more frequent

  • Extended periods of heavy rain

  • Soil erosion and waterlogging

  • Damage and loss of traditional garden plants

Smart Solutions for Modern Gardens

We can’t carry on gardening in a traditional method when we’re faced with these extremes, but the good news is that so many other countries who are more expereinced with this can lend their expertise.

1. Permeable Surfaces: The Foundation of Water Management

Allowing water to move through our land rather than ushering it off into storm water drains is an easy first step. So we look to:

  • Permeable patio paving that allows water to filter through into the earth where it falls

  • Gravel or aggregate paths and driveways to make larger areas permeable

  • Increasing planting areas to allow rain to directly soak into the land



2. Rain Gardens: Gentle SuDS

Rain gardens are gentle SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) are specially designed gardens that are more than ponds. They act to hold and gently disperse sudden deluges. They may even direct water into storage, or into a pond. We use rain gardens to make the most of the rain that we’re given, so that we don’t have to rely on tap water to irrigate.

Rain gardens can do the following:

  • Collect runoff from roofs and hard surfaces

  • Filter water naturally through layers of soil and plants

  • Reduce pressure on urban drainage systems

  • Create beautiful, wildlife-friendly features

  • Carry water via a rill to a pond, or from a pond overflow to a rain garden

3. Strategic Planting for Different Moisture Levels

Root systems of some prarie plants. What you don’t see matters for rain management. 

The key to a successful wet-weather garden is choosing the right plants for the right places. We are facing a present and a future of uncertainty, where some well-loved plants may no longer thrive. So we are working to consider plants that can accommodate wet feet, dry conditions, sudden showers and dry spells. That’s a big ask. In essence, we need upland, bog and wet plants to cover all these situations and we site them carefully.

PLanting for rotts that hold soil together is a consideration that you may never notice until it becomes part of your expert planting plan.

For Consistently Wet Areas:

  • Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag Iris)

  • Ligularia 'The Rocket'

  • Darmera peltata

  • Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)

For Occasional Flooding:

  • Astilbe varieties

  • Hosta species

  • Primula japonica

  • Water mint


For Well-Drained Areas:

  • Geranium macrorrhizum

  • Alchemilla mollis

  • Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’

  • Verbena bonariensis

The MHGD Approach

I take a holistic view of cliamte change in your garden when I am designing your transformation. I look at:

  • Local rainfall patterns

  • Soil type and structure

  • Site topography and surveys

  • Existing drainage issues

  • Property layout and levels

  • Your lifestyle and maintenance preferences

My solutions blend technical expertise with lifelong knowledge of climate extremes and aesthetic appeal. Using all of these tools I create gardens that are both beautiful and resilient. From initial assessment to final planting, water management is considered and incorporated into your garden's design.

Making Your Garden Future-Ready

With climate predictions suggesting increasingly wet summers and winters and more intense rainfall events, now is the time to adapt your garden. My professional design service ensures your garden not only survives but thrives in challenging conditions.

Each garden we transform becomes a sustainable ecosystem, working with nature rather than against it. Through careful planning and implementation, MHGD creates spaces that:

  • Manage water efficiently

  • Increase biodiversity

  • Provide year-round enjoyment

  • Require minimal maintenance

  • Stay beautiful whatever the weather

Transform Your Garden

Don't let rainfall limit your garden's potential. Contact Melanie to discuss how we can create a beautiful, resilient space that makes the most of every drop of rain. Our expertise in water management and sustainable garden design ensures your garden will be ready for whatever the British weather brings.



1 Kendon, M., Doherty, A., Hollis, D., Carlisle, E., Packman, S., McCarthy, M., Jevrejeva, S., Matthews, A., Williams, J., Garforth, J., & Sparks, T. (2024). State of the UK Climate 2023. International Journal of Climatology, 44(S1), 1–117. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8553

Melanie Hick
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