Water

I enjoyed your 4/24 article on rain gardens. I am considering constructing one.
1. What plants would you recommend I plant on a hill to slow down my neighbor’s enormous runoff before it runs downhill to pond my back yard and flood my cellar?
2. What is the name of the “green” engineering firm (constructing a new building downtown near Ward Parkway, I believe) recently mentioned in the Star because people stare at the hole in the ground which will become a water garden?

Looking for a local retailer that sales water barrels or water harvest materials.

Thanks.

Where in KC can I purchase a rain barrel already made? I can find a lot of classes on how to make them but I would prefer not to do that.

good morning, thank you for taking my question.
I have an in house water softener system that also goes to my outside spighot. Does this soft water containing salt pellets harm my outside plants? They do not seem to do well even though I water them.
Thank you.

Is it better to water container plants in the morning or at night when the weather is as hot as it is?

Other than conservation, is there any reason to collect rainwater for watering my flowers instead of just using city water? In other words, is there anything more beneficial about rainwater?

— Richard, Shawnee