Rain gardens - easy, attractive and effective

Rain gardens are bowl-shaped gardens designed to capture and treat rainwater. Compared with a conventional patch of lawn, a rain garden allows about 30% more water to soak into the ground. With a number of gardens in a community, rain gardens can have a significant impact. For example, the rain gardens in a 200-home development in Maryland are estimate to have reduced stormwater runoff from the whole development by 75-80% for small storms. Read more on this study.

Rain gardens can
• help protect communities from flooding and drainage problems
• help protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by stormwater
• provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects
• be an attractive addition to your yard

"How to" links:
Geosyntec LID presentation
Vermont Rain Garden Manual
University of Wisconsin Dpt. Natural Resources
Low Impact Development