Plants have been filtering water for a long time. Before people invented drains to move water, plants caught that water and returned it slowly to the soil. Restore some of the natural balance of plants and water flow with a rain garden.
What is a rain garden? A rain garden is a water or wetland garden that features carefully-chosen plants that have one common feature: they help water soak into the ground. By allowing stormwater runoff to soak into the ground, a rain garden reduces the need for storm drains. Storm drains move water very quickly from the ground into pipes, removing it from yards and groundwater.
Why plant a rain garden? It is important to have water in a garden. A carefully-designed rain garden can steward moisture for other garden plants. It helps build soil moisture by slowly collecting water, moving it down into the soil. Well-developed roots also create pockets of air in the soil, distributing water amongst garden plants.
Rain gardens also prevent erosion. Tiles and other concrete surfaces are impervious to water. Water either pools on the surfaces or moves quickly downhill if the concrete is on a slope. By replacing concrete surfaces with plants that slow down the water, rain gardens reduce soil erosion.
Mostly importantly, rain gardens are also beautiful. They feature marsh and streamside plants and offer a wonderful opportunity for gardeners to explore the wetter side of gardening in their particular area.
Tomorrow, we’ll explore how to find a great location for your rain garden, choose your plants, and care for your garden in the long term.
Image Credit: [scocasso]