~Information provided by West Michigan http://www.raingardens.org

 

 

What Is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden resembles a regular perennial garden in many ways. It is designed with deep-rooted plants that come back year after year; it is pretty to look at; it often has lovely flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs. So what makes it different from any other perennial garden?  Rain Gardens have a ponding area, but they are not ponds. They often are planted with wetland plants, but they are not wetlands (although you can design a rain garden that mimics a wetland).  The garden absorbs and filters rain that would otherwise run off your property and down the storm drain. This storm  water runoff usually comes from an impervious surface (such as roofs, driveways and sidewalks).  Many of the plants in the garden are native to the region, and have extensive deep roots that help the garden absorb rain. The native plants do not need special attention once they are established.  There is a bowl-shaped dip in the garden, which holds the rain while it soaks into the soil.

How do you create a Rain Garden?

The garden bed is prepared or sometimes replaced to a depth of two feet in order to de-compact the soils and make the garden able to absorb water.  A native plant garden that does not have rain directed into it from a hard surface will still be valuable, and will help absorb rain much better then traditional landscape.  But unless storm water is directed into the garden, it is not a rain garden.

 

Benefits of Rain Gardens

* Rain gardens are lovely landscaping features.                                                                                                                                  

* The plants create wildlife habitat and attract butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

* Rain gardens can save you money. They don't need to be fertilized or sprayed, only weeded and mulched. They reduce the amount of lawn you have to maintain. This makes your yard a healthier place for children and pets.

* A rain garden on your property makes you part of a solution to storm water pollution. They can potentially absorb hundreds of gallons of rain that would otherwise wash pollution down the street and into the nearest river or lake.              

* A rain garden can be part of a storm water reduction plan to help solve problems of combined sewer overflows. Rain gardens can actually remove many of the common pollutants in storm water.

* They are low maintenance. Once established, they require no fertilizer, watering, or mowing. A once a year cleanup, addition of shredded hardwood mulch to the surface and removal of weeds are all that are required.

* They can contribute to groundwater recharge, a natural process that is interrupted by soil compaction and hard surfaces created during development and building.

Limited number of funds are available and cost-sharing of 75% up to $500 for a rain garden. First come, first serve!     The garden must be design approved and native plants must be planted. 

For more information contact our office at 320-523-3666.

6

Rain Gardens