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What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is an attractive landscaped area in a low spot. They catch storm water runoff from rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, roads, and other impervious surfaces that would otherwise carry polluted water directly to our creeks and streams. Rain gardens are planted with deep rooted, water and drought tolerant plants. They can be installed on residential lots (urban and rural), commercial lots, and community areas.
Rain gardens allow rainwater and snowmelt to seep naturally into the ground. They function to slow and reduce storm water runoff. The deep roots allow for infiltration of water, providing better percolation compared to short-rooted turf grass. Pollutants carried from runoff are collected in the rain garden and filter through the root system and the soil. Groundwater carried away from rain gardens allows for cleaner water to enter our streams.
Benefits of rain gardens include: reducing amount of storm water (minimizing flooding and property damage threats), improvement of water quality of streams, low-cost conservation practice, provide wildlife habitat, simple installation, and provide an aesthestically pleasing landscape feature.
Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District and Rain Gardens
Franklin Soil & Water has been working to educate and provide technical assistance to landowners, local community groups, and municipalities on rain garden implementation. A partnership demonstration project was installed at the ODNR Division of Wildlife building in Columbus (1500 Dublin Rd.) and has been featured in multiple newspapers, garden tours, and on television. Several more workshops are planned for this year, as well as another upcoming partnership demonstration project. Franklin Soil & Water can provide site assessments, soils suitability, and planting lists to interested residents.
Please call our office if you would like more information: 614-486-9613
- Stephanie Suter ext. 125 |
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