A rain garden is a landscaped area planted with native plants and flowers that soaks up rain water.  The garden can be a destination for water coming from a downspout or parking lot.  The garden area is configured so that it fills with a few inches of rain during a storm then the water is completely absorbed by the ground once the rain stops.

In order to create an effective rain garden in northeastern Indiana, property owners may need to amend the soil to make it more pervious.  Native plants are recommended for use because many of the native species tolerate soil conditions from wet to dry.  These plants may also have extensive root structures that help to break up soil and make it more pervious.

Fort Wayne City Utilities has created  A Rain Garden Guide that provides more information about rain gardens and gives simple ideas for building a rain garden in your back yard.

Rain gardens are also being recognized around the country as one of a number of ways to better manage both the quantify and quality of urban stormwater runoff.  Learn more in this rain garden presentation from City Utilities.

Here are some other helpful and interesting sites that provide information about rain gardens.

Kansas City's 10,000 Rain Gardens Program http://www.rainkc.com/home/index.asp

Madison, Wisconsin Rain Garden Program www.danewaters.com/private/raingarden.aspx

Rain Gardens of West Michigan http://www.raingardens.org/Index.php

Maryland Rain Gardens www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/der/bioretention.asp

www.appliedeco.com/projects/raingardendesign.pdf