What is A Rain Garden
A rain garden is a shallow depression that allows rain and snowmelt to seep naturally into the ground by capturing runoff from rooftops and driveways. Most importantly, rain gardens help preserve nearby streams and ponds by reducing the amount of polluted runoff and filtering pollutants.

Why Do We Need a Rain Garden
Stormwater runoff from residential areas often contains excess lawn and garden fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, oil, yard wastes, sediment and animal wastes which cause water pollution.

Rain gardens fill with stormwater and allow the water to slowly filter into the ground. They also help prevent stream bank erosion and lower the risk of local flooding.

How does a Rain Garden Work Photo Courtesy of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, MI

What Activities Should Be Avoided In A Rain Garden
Do not fertilize your rain garden. Water runoff carries many nutrients and fertilizes the rain garden regularly. Place the shoveled snow next to the garden so it will be absorbed into the rain garden when it melts instead of shoveling it into the garden. Locate the rain garden away from direct road salt discharge and of course, do not add soil within the rain garden.

What Possible Problems Might Need Attention
If your rain garden overflows, the berm could erode. Fill any erosion on the berm with well-packed soil or sod. A second rain garden can be added down slope if this becomes a problem

What is The Proper Maintenance of a Rain Garden
After planting, you will want to pull weeds out of your rain garden until the mature plants crowd them out. For the first year, your rain garden will require monthly weeding during the growing season. It is only necessary to weed one time per year in the following years. Shrubs will need to be pruned annually. It may be necessary to water several times per week during extreme dry spells.

Mature Rain Garden

Newly Planted Rain Garden