Rain Gardens Digging Deeper NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY GARDEN BED, RAIN GARDENS ENHANCE YOUR PROPERTY. Andrew Kirkpatrick, Director of Stewardship, Willistown Conservation Trust
R
AIN GARDENS ARE POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.
You’ll find them on college campuses and office parks, in mall parking lots, along city streets and multi-use trails. They’ve grown in popularity over the last several years in response to the many problems stormwater causes in the landscape. When it rains—especially heavy rains—we often see flooding, erosion and pollution from stormwater runoff. Just the first inch of rain during a storm does the most harm. The good news is local use of rain gardens (even on your own property!) can help reduce flooding, erosion and pollution over a broad region. Here’s how.
THE BENEFITS OF A RAIN GARDEN First, what is a rain garden? It’s not just another garden bed, and it doesn’t need to be limited to perennial wildflowers and grasses. Shrubs and trees can also be used in rain gardens to achieve increased absorption, retention and beauty. A rain garden on your property provides many benefits, including: • Intercepting water and provide habitat for birds and wildlife, • Reducing stormwater runoff by 30% compared to a traditional turf lawn, • Adding natural beauty when well designed.
