What to Plant:
Native Plants for Rain Gardens
Planting Rain Gardens is a widely misunderstood concept for many of us. The term brings to mind marshy areas and water loving plants, which most homeowners simply don’t have. We assume we don’t have the appropriate area or need for such a garden. In reality, a rain garden is a wonderful tool to be used in areas which might receive a higher amount of water but isn’t necessarily consistently wet. We probably all have downspouts, right? Spots in our yards where water runs down and pools for a longer period than others? These are the perfect places to plant species capable of filtering larger amounts of water, but can also survive in periods of drought.
Further Reading
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video: "How To Build A Rain Garden", NSRWA, WaterSmartSouthShore, and Wild Ones
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book: "Rain Gardens: Sustainable Landscaping for a Beautiful Yard and a Healthy World", Lynn Steiner
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online: "How to Build a Rain Garden to Filter Run-Off", This Old House
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online: "How to Build a Rain Garden in Your Yard", Family Handyman
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online: "Building a Rain Garden", Northampton, MA Gov site