Installing a Rain Garden
Install a rain garden in your community – Possible ROAs for a Groundwater Guardian Project
Spring is just around the corner, and a great time to think about installing a rain garden. A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff. Rain gardens help filter out pollutants such as fertilizers, chemicals, bacteria, and others contained in runoff. They also incorporate native vegetation, reducing the need for fertilizers and after the first year, maintenance is usually minimal.
Rain gardens are effective in:
- removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals
- removing up to 80% of sediments from rainwater runoff
- allowing for 30% more water to soak into the ground than a conventional lawn
Consider installing a rain garden as one of your team’s 2016 Result-Oriented Activities. Remember, you can add an ROA at any time during the year. Involve the public and make it an educational event! Read more about how rain gardens benefit a community and how to get started.
Stormwater Management for Homeowners
Some examples of water features – Dallas, PA