HydroPlanter: Built for Performance, Designed for Site
HydroPlanters are GreenBlue Urban’s modular raingarden systems, developed to bring consistency, reliability and buildability to SuDS.
They combine engineered polymer infrastructure with high-performance growing media (AshMAX) to create a fully integrated system that manages water in a controlled and predictable way. Unlike traditional raingardens, where performance can vary depending on installation and site conditions, HydroPlanters are designed to deliver repeatable results across every project.
At their core, HydroPlanters provide:
- Engineered structure and storage: A defined substructure creates space for water storage while protecting the system from compaction and maintaining long-term integrity
- Controlled water management: Water is captured, stored and released in a controlled way, ensuring consistent performance during rainfall events
- Modular, buildable design: Designed for straightforward installation, reducing complexity on site and supporting efficient delivery
- Space-efficient SuDS: By managing water at source, HydroPlanters reduce the need for large, centralised storage, making them ideal for constrained urban environments
AshMAX: More Than Just Soil
AshMAX (Arborsoil Hydro MAX) is a high-performance growing medium developed specifically for raingardens and SuDS applications.
It has been engineered through extensive research and testing to deliver consistent hydraulic performance while supporting healthy, long-term plant growth. Unlike conventional soils, AshMAX is designed to behave predictably, providing the right balance between water movement, storage and nutrient availability.
Its composition and production are tightly controlled to ensure reliability on every project.
AshMAX delivers:
- High permeability for efficient movement and storage of water
- Defined porosity to support both drainage and aeration
- Controlled chemistry for a stable growing environment
Designed to Work Together
The performance of a raingarden doesn’t come from a single component; it comes from how everything works together.
HydroPlanters and AshMAX are designed in parallel to complement each other:
- The HydroPlanter provides structure, storage and hydraulic control
- AshMAX provides filtration, water retention and a healthy growing environment
- Captures rainfall at source
- Performs reliably during heavy rainfall
- Retains moisture to support planting during dry periods
- Maintains long-term hydraulic and biological performance
A Complete, Reliable System
Raingardens only deliver value when they perform consistently over time.
By combining engineered infrastructure with a rigorously developed growing medium, GreenBlue Urban systems remove uncertainty. They provide a dependable, repeatable solution that meets modern SuDS requirements while enhancing the quality of the built environment.
The result is simple: raingardens that don’t just look good but perform year after year. FAQ's
A high-performing raingarden is more than a planted depression. It relies on engineered infrastructure, a carefully designed growing medium and controlled water movement working together. When each component is designed as part of a complete system, the raingarden can capture, filter, store and slowly release runoff while supporting healthy vegetation over the long term.
Conventional topsoil can vary significantly in structure, drainage and nutrient content, making hydraulic performance unpredictable. Engineered bioretention media, such as AshMAX, is developed to provide consistent permeability, water storage, aeration and growing conditions, helping raingardens perform reliably across different sites and weather conditions.
HydroPlanters provide a defined structural framework that creates water storage, protects the growing medium from compaction and manages water movement through the system. This engineered approach reduces installation variability and helps deliver predictable, repeatable SuDS performance on every project.
Yes. Modular raingarden systems are specifically designed for streets, public realm projects and other space-constrained environments where traditional drainage infrastructure may not be practical. By managing water at source, they help reduce the need for larger downstream attenuation features.
A properly designed raingarden manages rainfall through temporary storage, filtration and controlled discharge. During larger storm events, excess water is safely conveyed through designed overflow routes while the system continues to slow runoff and reduce pressure on the drainage network.
Yes. Engineered growing media retain sufficient moisture to support healthy planting between rainfall events while still providing the drainage capacity needed during storms. This helps vegetation remain resilient through both wet and dry periods.
Engineered systems offer greater consistency, predictable hydraulic performance and simpler installation. Because the infrastructure and growing medium are designed together, they reduce uncertainty during specification, construction and long-term operation compared with site-built raingardens using conventional materials.
Like any SuDS feature, raingardens require routine inspection and maintenance. Typical activities include removing litter and sediment, managing vegetation, checking inlets and outlets, and replacing plants if necessary. Regular maintenance helps ensure the system continues to perform as intended throughout its design life.
As runoff passes through the vegetation and engineered growing medium, sediments and pollutants are filtered before water is discharged or infiltrates into the ground. This treatment process is one of the reasons raingardens are widely used as part of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
Raingardens are commonly installed in streetscapes, public realm projects, schools, car parks, commercial developments, housing schemes and retrofit projects. They are particularly effective where rainfall can be managed close to where it falls, helping to reduce pressure on conventional drainage infrastructure while creating greener, more attractive places.
