Rain gardens are designed to give stormwater a place to seep slowly into the ground, preventing further runoff. Rainwater runoff often picks up pollutants like fertilizers, oil, and bacteria, especially in urban areas. Rain gardens filter out many of these pollutants, keeping our groundwater cleaner and protecting nearby bodies of water. Once established, they are generally low maintenance and don’t even need to be watered. Planting a rain garden can also attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your yard and garden.
To create a rain garden:
- Choose a location that is downhill (preferably below a gutter or ditch), at least 10 feet away from your house. Make sure it is not on too steep of a slope.
- Next, determine how big you want your rain garden to be and clear the spot by digging a hole about 5-10 inches deep.
- Add a mixture of soil, compost and sand to the hole.
- Plant a variety of native plants. Choose mostly plant varieties that tolerate wet conditions, but go with plants that tolerate dry conditions for the edges of your rain garden.
- Enjoy the beauty of your garden and know that you are helping to improve ground water quality and reduce flooding!
Above Photo Credit: Rain Dog Designs, Gig Harbor, WA
Check out these links for more ideas on how to get started and what to plant:
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/make-a-rain-garden/
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-design-a-rain-garden-4580622