Today’s Tip from The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference: Design your garden to take advantage of storm-water run off.
Rain gardens are built near driveways and rooftops to capture the rainwater that would otherwise end up flowing into storm drains. Compared to a regular patch of lawn, a rain garden allows about 30 percent more water to soak into the ground, which prevents erosion, water pollution, and flooding.
You can build your own rain garden using common nursery products and a little elbow grease. Choose an area where storm-water runoff accumulates (underneath the eaves and alongside the driveway are good choices) and install a layer of gravel beneath the soil to improve drainage.
Native plants are the best option for rain gardens because they are more tolerant of the local climate and soil and water conditions, and they require little fertilizer. Talk to a professional at your neighborhood garden center about which plants are native to your area. In most cases, a combination of ferns, wildflowers, and sedge grass is a good choice.
See all of the other tips in our Go Green series.