A rain garden is a shallow planted depression designed to hold water until it soaks into the soil. A key feature of eco-friendly landscape design, rain gardens—also known as bio-infiltration basins—are gaining credibility and converts as an important solution to stormwater runoff and pollution. Here we’ll show you how to make a rain garden fit handsomely into a landscape and still fulfill all of its environmental functions.
Learn everything you need to know about rain gardens, including what they are, the problem of rainwater runoff, their benefits, and how to i
Refer to the list of links below to guide you through calculating garden depth, garden size, placement, and plant selection.
University of Nebraska NebGuide 1 – Rain Garden Design for Homeowners
University of Nebraska NebGuide 2 – Plant Selection for Rain Gardens in Nebraska
University of Nebraska NebGuide 3 – Installing Rain Gardens in Your Yard
Backyard Farmer Video – Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels
I grew these Helenium autumnale from seed from a local population in an ecological restoration project. This is their second year. They didn't bloom the first year.
Most of my yard is too dry for them, but they are loving the rain garden I built near the one downspout.
If you live in LA / socal area and want to start native plant gardening please do message me! I’ve become really obsessed with native plant gardening and i’m currently building a rain garden
As I am getting older it’s harder not to be a total karen about the state of the world and our political situation sending soliders to fight for israel (im just gonna stop myself here)
One thing I will say is there is something incredibly radical and punk about these native plants that have charmed me. Replacing your lawn with native plants and building a rain garden is one very small way to make a difference in this world where all our beautiful habitats and riparian zones are being sold off to developers at any cost to the environment.
Seeing all the native butterflies and caterpillars finding often the only plants that support their life cycles is so rewarding because a lot of these butterflies here are going extinct.
Building a raingarden helps the ocean because it reduces water runoff into storm drains, and all the pollution and bacteria it takes with it to the ocean from LA.
I’ve been collecting seeds from the wild and from various native plant organizations, and I would love to share some! Soon i will be able to give away cuttings when my plants all get bigger. I also would love to give any advice to anyone who is curious about starting this. I am only knowledgeable about plants native to Southern California, but you can do this anywhere and it will have a positive impact on your ecosystem.
These are my first Clarkias that started blooming, I love them so much. I wake up and garden instead of going on the internet. It does something different for my brain than even music are going for a walk does… I really can’t stress enough how rewarding it us to see your first butterfly or first petals…
You can read more about rain gardens here:
What is a rain garden? Is it a good fit for my yard? Find out with Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens program how beautiful, resilient natur
How to build a DIY rain garden to stop stormwater runoff, prevent basement flooding, and protect native pollinators! 👇
In this video, Cody from the Michigan Environmental Council teams up with Cyndi Ross, a rain garden expert from Friends of the Rouge, to show you how to design and build a DIY rain garden from scratch. Whether you live in Detroit or anywhere across Michigan, heavy storms are hitting harder, making stormwater management more critical than ever.
Learn how a simple, shallow, bowl-shaped garden filled with deep-rooted Michigan native plants acts as a natural filtration system—protecting your home's foundation, preventing sewage backups, and creating a safe sanctuary for bees and butterflies.
We break down the step-by-step process of choosing the right location, checking utility lines with MISS DIG 811, calculating your soil infiltration rate, and building a beautiful DIY dry creek bed.
Plus, discover the bigger environmental picture: how backyard rain gardens connect to crucial state environmental policies like restricting toxic neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) and passing a statewide uniform septic code in Lansing.
🌱 RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Calculate Your Rain Garden Size: www.therouge.org/rainsmart
Best Michigan native plants for rain gardens:https://therouge.org/p...
4:25 - Choosing the Best Michigan Native Plants (Coneflowers, Yarrow, & Black-Eyed Susans)
4:44 - Planting in Heavy Clay Soil: Compost, Sand, & Mulch Tips
5:15 - Saving the Pollinators: The Fight Against Toxic Neonics in Lansing
6:15 - Why Michigan Needs a Statewide Septic Code
💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Are you planning to build a rain garden this season? What native plants are you using? Let us know in the comments below!
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