What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is a shallow, vegetated landscaping feature that captures excess rainwater and puts it to work. As the rain garden bed is slightly below the level of the yard, the garden acts as a shallow dish that holds the water for a short time so that it can instead soak into the garden soil. Well-designed rain gardens absorb 30% more water than turf lawns and will drain completely within a few days after an average storm.
What are the benefits of a rain garden?
Rain gardens have many benefits. First, it is an attractive addition to any yard. Both you and your neighbors will enjoy its beauty for years to come.
In addition, rain gardens provide environmental benefits by improving water quality and promoting water conservation. Water that runs off hard surfaces, like your roof, and from your yard during rain events flows down the street collecting contaminants such as automobile fluids, yard fertilizers, and pet waste. This adds pollution to your local rivers because storm drain water is not treated before it enters your local rivers. For example, yard waste & fertilizers add excessive amounts of nutrients to rivers. This causes algae to grow and depletes oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic life depend on. By collecting the excess runoff before it reaches the street, rain gardens reduce the amount of polluted water flowing into storm drains. Research has shown that the intensive installation of rain gardens in neighborhoods can greatly reduce storm water runoff and street flooding.
The water retained in the garden soaks down into the soil, providing water for the garden plants as well as for the underlying water table. This minimizes the need for watering and helps conserve municipal water supplies.
Finally, the native plants used in rain gardens provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Native plants also require less maintenance, particularly less watering, over time because they are adapted to the local soil and climate conditions.
What are the steps for creating a rain garden?
- Decide where you want the rain garden located and where it would be most effective in collecting the runoff from your property (i.e. close to a downspout).
- Design the garden. Determine the garden size and depth that will maximize the amount of runoff the garden receives. Garden shape is largely a matter of preference or available space.
- Select your plants. Choose moisture-loving species for the garden bottom and drought-tolerant species for the sides and berm. Selecting plants that are diverse in color, height, texture, and blooming time results not only in a more interesting display, but one that attracts a greater variety of birds and butterflies.
- Plant the garden. Planting time depends mostly on the size of your garden. For most gardens, a few people working together will be able to complete the project in a day. Ask your friends and neighbors for help; this is a great opportunity to spread the word about the benefits of rain gardens.
How much will it cost?
The cost of installing a rain garden depends on several factors such as garden size, your yard’s soil type, and the plants selected. You can reduce the cost of plants by selecting younger plants, getting specimens from friends, or raising your own from seed. You can also plant in phases; completing one section of the garden this year, and then completing the planting in the following year.
Where can I get more information?
Come to one of our upcoming workshops and/or download our Rain Garden Brochure:
March 15 – Rain Gardens Workshop I: Why and How
What: Rain Gardens Workshop I
When: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion Room B
Why: Does your basement or street flood? Do you have a wet area in your yard that you don’t know what to do with? If your answer is yes, you may want to consider creating a rain garden on your property. Rain gardens capture rain and quickly infiltrate it into the ground, while simultaneously providing aesthetic and environmental benefits. Prairie Rivers Network’s presentation on rain gardens is approximately 45 minutes long, with a question period afterward. The presentation describes what rain gardens are and how they can be constructed and maintained. Free handouts include a rain garden brochure and website links. Attendees will leave the presentation with enough knowledge and resources to construct their own rain gardens.
Presenter: Stacy James, Ph.D., Prairie Rivers Network
Free and open to the public.
Click Here To Register: Space is limited.
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April 12 – Rain Garden Design Workshop II
What: In part two of Prairie Rivers Network’s two-part rain garden series, participants will design their own rain gardens with one-on-one help from experts. Participants are encouraged to bring in plans, photos, drawings and questions. Topics that will be addressed include site selection, rain garden dimensions, plant species selection, where to buy native plants and other supplies, and hardscaping options. Participants will leave with a sketch and to-do list for making their design a reality. This workshop is aimed at participants who have either attended a rain garden presentation in the past or have at least already read literature on rain gardens.
When: 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion Room B
Why: You want to build a rain garden. You have an idea of where it will go, but now you have questions! Is my site appropriate? What are the elements of an attractive design feature? Where can I find native plants and other supplies?
Presenters: Stacy James, Ph.D, Prairie Rivers Network; Doug Eppich, Waterflow Consultants; Paula Blakley, Illini Farmtown FS
Free and open to the public.
Click here to register. Space is limited.
