The disclosed subject matter broadly involves vegetated systems, apparatuses, and methods or portions thereof having structures and configurations to intentionally hold captured water gravitationally within and above a portion of a vegetated surface thereof. The vegetated system can be configured to periodically desiccate, dry or dry out, substantially completely or partially. Further, the vegetated system can be configured to allow the water to escape via evaporation, evapotranspiration, and transpiration.