Alliance For Chesapeake Bay: How To Build A Rain Garden And Reduce Stormwater

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has a guide on how homeowners can reduce stormwater runoff by constructing a rain garden.

Rain gardens are an easy and effective tool that we can use to help reduce stormwater runoff from residential properties. These gardens are strategically placed to intercept pollutant laden stormwater runoff until it can be fully absorbed into the ground.

Their design allows the rain garden to serve almost as a bowl that collects water from downspouts or overland flow across a property. The water is then able to slowly infiltrate into the underlying soil.

Rain gardens can come in all different shapes and sizes but are best when planted with native plants that are indigenous to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These plants require little maintenance once established, have deep roots that soak up lots of water, provide food and habitat to wildlife, and are beautiful.

Click Here to watch a video on how to install a rain garden.  Click Here to learn more.