WHY PLANT A RAIN GARDEN?
Here are three great reasons to plant a rain garden on your property:
Rain gardens are man-made landscape features where stormwater runoff is allowed to collect and pond for a short period of time. Native perennial plants are typically used in a rain garden because they are hardy, they come back from year to year, and they can actually help filter some pollutants out of rainwater runoff while their roots help water soak into the ground naturally. In fact, compared with a grassed lawn area, a rain garden may allow 30% more water to be absorbed! Planting a rain garden is like returning a little bit of your property to its natural state.
Here are three great reasons to plant a rain garden on your property:
Rain gardens can be an important way to reduce water pollution caused by increased stormwater runoff that carries surface pollutants into storm sewers and then into streams and other water bodies.
Rain gardens can also help to reduce the amount of stormwater that enters storm sewers and the combined sewer system, causing sewage to be discharged to our rivers during wet weather.
Rain gardens may help to address some drainage issues on public and private property.
Help Fort Wayne reach its goal of 1,000 rain gardens! So far, more than 100 rain gardens have been created in and around Fort Wayne. Is there one in your neighborhood? Check the map!
NOTE: Please call 311 or email [email protected] if you’d like to include your rain garden on the map.
Interested in learning more? The City of Fort Wayne has made several resources available to help you create your own rain garden.
Our manual walks you through the process of planning, planting, and maintaining a rain garden, step by step.
Join us for an in-person or virtual workshop to learn all about rain gardens from our team of experts.
Watch our series of free videos online, at your own pace, to explore rain gardens for yourself.