Rain Gardens

A Rain Garden is a garden that is designed specifically to collect and infiltrate rainwater that falls on nearby impervious surfaces. Downspouts from rooftops are directed to the rain garden and swales direct water from impervious surfaces like sidewalks and driveways.

The benefits of Rain Gardens are: Rain Gardens reduce storm water runoff which: Reduces the amount of pollutants such as sediment, nutrients and metals that enter lakes, streams, wetlands, and rivers Rain Gardens are beautiful Rain Gardens attract Butterflies and Birds Rain Gardens are low maintenance once established

For more information on Rain Gardens, including manuals to construct one in your yard see the links below.

Links

University of Wisconsin – Rain Garden Manual
http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/home.gardens.pdf

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Rain Garden Manual
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/manuals/stormwaterplants.html

Applied Ecology – Rain Garden Manual
http://www.appliedeco.com/RainGarden.cfm

Minnesota DNR list of Native Plant Suppliers and Landscapers by Region
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/suppliers.html

Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Rain Garden Article
www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun04/raingardens.html