Gardening News
Home & Garden: Rain gardens are practical and pretty

You may have heard talk about rain gardens. Intuitively we can guess what they are: an area that has plants like a garden and collects rain. But what exactly are they and how do they work?
Rain gardens are a low-tech way to slow and absorb stormwater runoff from roofs, patios, driveways, sidewalks, and other hard — also called “impervious” — surfaces. Commonly the creation of a rain garden involves choosing a low-lying spot to dig an oblong depression ranging in size from just a handful of feet in diameter to about 12 by 20 feet, depending on the site. The dugout area is partly re-filled with a layer of sand and/or gravel for water filtration/absorption, and then a layer of compost or rich soil. At that point it can be planted with a variety of native species of plants.
The function of the rain garden is to collect rainwater that otherwise would be increasing in speed as it goes downhill. The rain garden also allows stormwater to absorb more slowly into the landscape and simultaneously provides beauty and habitat. In addition, some studies have shown that rain gardens filter some contaminants out of the water that enters them.
Landscapers (and sometimes volunteers!) usually plant in these gardens species that thrive in wet or semi-wet conditions such as sedges, willows, dogwoods and other flowering plants with varying blooming times throughout the spring, summer and fall. The root systems of the plants in rain gardens can filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff, and slow down and capture stormwater before it flows into an overwhelmed culvert or water body. Managing stormwater with methods to slow, filter and infiltrate rainwater is a great way to give streams and rivers a break during the rainy season.
Typically rain gardens are placed in residential yards, in municipal lots or in commercial properties that want to contribute to flood resiliency and water quality in their community. Here it must be said that some businesses and developments are required by law to manage stormwater, in which case green stormwater infrastructure can be part of their overall management plan.
Rain Gardens can:
- Be shaped and sized to fit your yard.
- Use a special mix of sand and compost that allows water to soak in rapidly and supports healthy plant growth.
- Can be landscaped with a variety of plants to fit the surroundings.
“A rain garden can be a lot of work to maintain for the first couple of years,” said Tim Parsons, Landscape Horticulturist and professor of Architecture Studies at Middlebury College. “But after that, they are much less work — maybe just weed and prune once a year.”
Local landscaper Lauren Slayton agreed:
“I water plants only in the first year of planting and can’t think of any major losses.”
Parsons believes that shrubs are a very important element of rain gardens. Shrubs offer good uptake of water, cover and food for birds and beauty above the lower herbaceous layer.
A rain garden in your yard can provide abundant benefits both for you and the environment. Native plants provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other pollinators. In a world of mowed lawns, a rain garden could be an oasis for songbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects.

THIS RAIN GARDEN in Middlebury’s Marble Works complex is classically situated in a low-lying spot where it can collect and absorb rainwater and also filter some contaminants out of the water that runs off the nearby parking lot.
Independent photo/John S. McCright
An ideal site for a rain garden is one that is not over any utilities, septic tanks or wellheads; more than 10 feet from buildings with basements; has a gentle slope of not more than 12%; is in the flow of runoff from hard surfaces; and is free of trees that do not like to be wet. If your yard or business fits the bill, a rain garden is a great option for managing stormwater.
By holding on to water, rain gardens can also recharge groundwater, which is great news for folks who use well water. A rain garden of native plants is a great (and great-looking) solution for standing water in your yard, runoff from your roof or road, supporting pollinators and birds, and making your yard more beautiful. After it is established, rain gardens are fairly easy to maintain.
Is a rain garden right for you?
“In Middlebury and Vergennes there are areas underlain with clay that will not be efficient at letting water soak into the ground,” said Addison County River Watch Director Matt Witten. “That said, where there’s lots of clay, there are still fine options for slowing water down, options that can create both additional habitat and beauty.”
Rain gardens are most effective at permeable sites such as those with sandy, silty, gravelly or even slightly clay soils. The parts of Addison County with heavy clay soils might do best to look to other Green Stormwater Infrastructure methods, including mini-meadows and stormwater planters. Bioswales are a low-maintenance way to vegetate a soggy part of your lawn with water-loving native plants, and water bars can help with erosion by redirecting water off of an unpaved area and on to vegetated area.
Managing stormwater on your property is a great way to show our streams and rivers — as well as your downstream neighbors — a little bit of love. During a big rain event, waterways (and our municipal stormwater systems) can get overrun with the surge of stormwater filled with pollutants from roads, lawns and agriculture. Rain gardens and other green stormwater management strategies can act as a much needed speed bump in the way of stormwater when big rains come to town.
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