Rain Gardens

A rain garden is a colourful, perennial planting designed to capture and use rain water that may otherwise runoff.  It is a garden in a shallow depression.  It can be large or small.  A rain garden is not a wetland and should not hold water for more than a few hours, or a day at most.  It is NOT a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

Rains in the southeast fall hard and fast.  Runoff from roofs, lawns, and driveways may overload storm sewers, drainage ditches and streams.  As this runoff enters the drainage network, it carries with it nutrients, sediment, oil, gas, heavy metals etc.  Rain gardens help reduce the amount of this potentially harmful material from entering the water system and degrading water quality.  Rain gardens also reduce the need for supplemental water on your lawn.  They regenerate the groundwater by allowing water to soak into the soil, rather than run-off.

Locate a rain garden to intercept runoff from roofs, yards, driveways, or streets.  It should not be built within ten feet of foundation walls or on poorly drained sites.  A rain garden should not be built over buried utilities or drivers' vision.  Do not construct a rain garden where prohibited by local ordinances or where subject to disturbance.

How a rain garden works

  1. Down spouts direct water from your rood to your garden.
  2. Berms keep the water within the garden and prevent overflowing.
  3. Deep roots absorb the water and help it penetrate into the soil.

 

How to plant a rain garden

Use potted or bare root plants rather than seeds.  Plant from June to September.  Place the more water tolerant species near the bottom, and drought tolerant near the edges.  Plant spacing will vary depending upon species and desired appearance.  Generally, 15-18 inches between plants is adequate.  Consider mature size when spacing plants.

What to plant in a Rain Garden

Rain gardens can be planted to native or non-native species of flowers, grasses, shrubs or trees.  Do not plant species considered invasive.  Consider the growth habit and mature size of the species.  Some native species are adapted to local conditions and may be more tolerant of diseases and drought, compared to non-native species.  A diversity of plant species will provide an array of colour and texture, and attract a variety of insects and wildlife.  Always use locally adapted species and varieties.

Plants suitable for Rain Gardens

  • Bergamot
  • Purple Coneflower
  • Black Eyed Susan
  • Daisy
  • Butterfly Weed
  • Blazing Star (Liatris)
  • Aster
  • Obedient Plant
  • Little Bluestem
  • Anemone
  • Blanket Flower
  • Russian Sage
  • Peony
  • Spirea
  • Daylily
  • Iris
  • Hydrangea
  • Sedges
  • Rushes

SRRCD Rain Garden Program

The Seine-Rat River Conservation District will provide $500.00 in funding to homeowners who complete a successful rain garden on their property.  Successful applicants will be required to complete a rain garden worksheet before beginning their project. 

Rain Garden Application*

Rain Garden Worksheet *

 

Water Storage/Retention

The purpose of the Water Storage / Retention Program is to design and construct sites where water can be held back for a period of time.  A structure such as a small dam could be constructed in order to maintain or rehabilitate a marsh area or to temporarily hold some water back to alleviate flooding events.  In some cases, when water storage areas are created, it facilitates more effective drainage to other higher value agricultural lands downstream.

Water Storage/Retention Application*

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If you are interested in this, or any other aspect of what the Seine-Rat River Conservation District does, do not hesitate to contact us. Email: manager@srrcd.ca or call our office at (204) 424-5845 (Mon- Fri, 8:00am - 4:00pm).