from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Livingston County Q&A Master Gardeners with the

I’ve been hearing more and more about rain gardens. What key details should I consider when installing one?

A rain garden looks like a perennial garden but has a shallow depression to collectandfilterstormwaterthatrunsoff nearby hard surfaces (roofs, driveways, walkways). Most rain gardens are a few inches deep and hold water for a day or so. Water leaving the garden may enter a storm drain system or seep into the ground where it can help renew groundwater. Plants in the rain garden slowstormwaterrunoff andhelpreduce flooding and erosion. Vegetation may remove pollutants entering waterways. A properly constructed rain garden will hold and filter approximately 30 percent more rainfall than the same area covered by a lawn. It’s a winwin. They do take careful planning and installation to be most effective, but if you have questions or run into problems,the CCE is happy to help. Considerations when installing a rain garden:

1. Plants in a rain garden must withstand alternating periods of wet and dry soil as well as occasional flooding. Also consider deer-resistant plants if populations are high in your area.

2.Varyplantforms,heights,andbloom times to add diversity and interest to your rain garden.

3. Water your newly planted garden regularly for the first season or until the plants are established.

4. Keep weeds to a minimum, especially during establishment. A mulch layer will naturally suppress many weeds. Renew mulch at least once a year or as it decomposes. Composted mulch supplies nutrients for native plants in your garden so there’s no need to add fertilizer.

5. Check water inflow and overflow areas occasionally and clear debris as necessary.

6. Over time, you may need to remove layers of silt or sediment that accumulate in the depression. At that point, you may want to divide plants that are crowded or fill gaps left by plants that failed to thrive.

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