What’s a Rain Garden?
A rain garden is a particular area of landscape designed to capture and retain rain water coming from a roof, driveway, or other non-porous surface.
Why use a Rain Garden?
Non-porous surfaces, such as a roof, can gather large amounts of water and pollutants during a rainstorm. It’s best to try and keep this water on-site, and not overwhelm storm water systems, or contribute to flash floods. Rain gardens can even help filter pollutants, as well as create mini native habitats by using native plants.
Native plants work great in rain gardens, as they can tolerate the area’s natural climate. By using them, it will also attract pollinators such as butterflies.
Resources:
Soak Up the Rain: Rain Gardens (EPA)
Rain Garden Design and Construction (Fairfax County, VA)
Rain Gardens – A how-to manual for homeowners (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)
Rain Gardens: Keeping Water on the Land (City of Austin, TX)
Building a Rain Garden in Colorado (Colorado State University)