Increase areas where rain can soak into the ground. Make a Rain Garden!
A rain garden is a planted or stone-covered depression that collects rainwater runoff from roofs and driveways, allowing it to soak into the ground rather than running off into the storm sewers. Planted with native species that can withstand both wet and dry conditions, a rain garden can be a beautiful addition to your yard while enhancing habitat for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects.
Rain gardens are a natural way to deal with:
- leaky basements
- poor drainage
- wet/low areas in the yard
- run-off/erosion problems
All this, while at the same time helping protect water quality in our creeks, rivers, and our beautiful Lake Superior every time it rains. EcoSuperior staff and volunteers have built two rain gardens on our property at 560 and 562 Red River Road. One is a rock-filled model and the other is a vegetated swale, filled with a variety of plants that are well adapted to both wet and dry conditions. Stop by our office to see them, and watch them evolve each year as the plants become established.
Learn all about Rain Gardens from CMHC and from the University of Wisconsin.
You can download this handout from our hands-on workshop.
See our 2011 workshop photo album.
Page last updated on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
