- Disconnect / Redirect Downspouts
- Green Roofs
- Permeable Pavement
- Rain Barrels
- Rain Gardens
- Trees Help Reduce Runoff
A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property. Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds and other wildlife.
More complex rain gardens with drainage systems and amended soils are often referred to as bioretention.
Note: Refer to the links in this section for important tips on how to locate your rain garden. These include areas to avoid and the need for accurate information about underground utilities before you begin to dig.
Water-Smart Landscape Design Tips, Water Sense
Information about plant selection, soils, and maintenance.
Rain Gardens, University of Connecticut
Information on siting and sizing a rain garden, design, installation and long and short term maintenance. Also includes a series of Frequently Asked Questions and a Cost Calculator for estimating the cost to install a residential rain garden.
Rain Garden App, University of Connecticut
This free web-based app helps you build your own rain garden
Resident's Guide to Rain Gardens, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (pdf) (533 KB)
Introduces rain gardens, including information about what they are, the benefits and some common questions.
Adding a Rain Garden to Your Landscape, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Introduces rain gardens and includes instructions and plans on how to plan, design, install and maintain.
Rain Garden Guide, Massachusetts Watershed Coalition (pdf) (806 KB)
An introductory guide on how to site, design, plant and maintain a rain garden.
How do I build a rain garden?, Soak Up the Rain New Hampshire, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Video documents the installation of a residential rain garden. Explains why we want rain gardens, factors to consider in determining site suitability and plant selection, and many other rain garden basics while demonstrating how to dig and plant a new rain garden.
A Shoreland Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater Management (pdf) (1.4 MB)
The guide describes practices, including rain gardens, that shoreland homeowners can install to reduce or prevent polluted stormwater runoff from their roofs, patios, lawns and driveways.
Rain Gardens, Simple Steps at Home, Rhode Island Stormwater Solutions
Includes links to many fact sheets, including rain garden maintenance information for homeowners and professionals.
Bay-Friendly Living, Save the Bay (pdf) (15.1 MB)
Tips on how to make your yard more attractive, cut back on chores and improve the quality of your local waters. Includes information and links on planting a rain garden, selecting native plants (and avoiding invasives), and lawn care.
Rhode Island Wild Plant Society
Information about native plants and native plant nurseries
Infiltration: Bioretention/Rain Gardens, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Some basics, along with photos and illustrations on design, sizing, placement, and installation.
Absorb the Storm - Create a Rain-friendly Yard and Neighborhood, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, University of Vermont Cooperative Extension (pdf) (2.5 MB)
Discusses a number of steps homeowners can take, including rain gardens, to help prevent the problems associated with runoff.
The Vermont Rain Garden Manual: "Gardening to Absorb the Storm", University of Vermont (pdf) (2.3 MB)
This manual explains how to choose a location for a rain garden, choose plants, install and maintain the garden. Includes plant lists.
Rain garden at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System facility in Leeds, MA (Photo Credit - U.S. Air Force)
Residential rain garden in Leominster, Massachusetts Rain garden in Leominster, MA (Photo Credit - MA Watershed Coalition) Rain garden at work in Leominster, MA (Photo Credit - MA Watershed Coalition) School rain garden, Rochester, NHRain Garden Webinar
UConn presentation introduces rain gardens, including how to pick a location, select plants and install a rain garden
Rain Garden App
A mobile app for designing, installing and maintaining a rain garden. Apple and Android versions available.