Rain Gardens
Garden Design
Rain gardens are healthy for the environment because their purpose is to slow, capture, and filter polluted runoff water before it seeps into the ground. Instead of heading directly into storm drains and consequently into lakes and rivers, the water is naturally cleaned as it is filtered through the soil. Lawns are often too compacted to absorb the water quickly, but the soil in rain gardens is soft and easily permeated.
Rain gardens should be located in areas where runoff is a problem, such as next to the street, at the roof’s edge, or alongside a driveway. Be sure the garden dips at the center so water can collect there.
Native and water loving plants are perfect for rain gardens. A few to try are: Sweet Flag (Acorus), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias incarnata), Siberian Iris, Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), and Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia).
Rain gardens should be located in areas where runoff is a problem, such as next to the street, at the roof’s edge, or alongside a driveway. Be sure the garden dips at the center so water can collect there.
Native and water loving plants are perfect for rain gardens. A few to try are: Sweet Flag (Acorus), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias incarnata), Siberian Iris, Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), and Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia).
