Rain gardens are aesthetically pleasing plantings that are used to prevent runoff from your rain gutters and impervious (hard) surfaces such as driveways and paths from carrying nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants into streams.  Existing low or wet spots are good sites as are areas such as the end of downspouts or other areas that collect significant amounts of rainwater in your yard.  These combinations of native plants and mulch work as a filters for runoff and allow it to percolate down into the groundwater instead of entering waterways where it can cause flooding related problems.  Grasses are planted as an initial filter strip and other larger plants such as sedges, rushes and shrubs are planted downstream.

While runoff from the most moderate of storms is exacerbated by the extent of impervious surfaces around the home, it can be put to good use to nurture water-loving plants in existing low-lying areas of your yard; or in constructed depressions.  Larger pools capable of holding water for a few months in spring can serve as important breeding grounds for salamanders and frogs, such as spring peepers.

Not only do you get a wonderful new garden out of it, you and your family receive the added benefit of helping protect our streams from stormwater pollution.  Be part of a beautiful solution!

Common Native Plants Suitable for Rain Gardens

Sedges
Rushes
Winterberry
Summersweet
Cardinal Flower
New York Ironweed
Silky Dogwood
Gray Dogwood
Rose Mallow
Wild Bergamot
Turtlehead
Blue Flag
Mountain Mint
Joe Pye Weed
New England Aster