Rain Gardens are simply shallow depressions that allow storm runoff from roofs, driveways, patios, etc. to slowly soak into the soil. Rain gardens:- Are landscaped with plants that fit your yard.
- Have deep, compost-amended soils to soak up and clean runoff before it reaches streets and storm drains.
- Help reduce pollution and erosion in our streams, lakes, and Puget Sound.
 Other ways to slow and clean storm water at home Build your soil with compost – dig or till in compost when planting
gardens, beds, or lawns.Mulch beds annually with wood chips, leaves, or compost.Plant trees to slow and clean rainfall – especially native trees.Don's use pesticides like “weed & feed” or other weed and bug
killers.Fertilize moderately – more is not better, and fertilizer can pollute
waterways.Redirect downspouts to spread roof runoff out into the landscape
to soak in.Use porous paving, gravel, or open pavers for decks, walkways,
and driveways to let the rain soak through into the soil.Maintain septic systems and sewer lines – they can be big polluters
if unmaintained.Fix oil leaks in cars and equipment.
The Rain Garden Handbook shows homeowners and contractors how to design, build, plant, and maintain beautiful rain gardens. The Rain Garden Handbook is available online at: http://www.pierce.wsu.edu/Water_Quality/LID
Best Time to Build
The best time to build a rain garden is fall or spring when the ground is moist but not soaking wet. Disturbing the ground in the winter can cause serious erosion during rain storms, and digging while the ground is wet can severly compact the soil. Compaction reduces the ability of the area to soak up water.
Introduction to Rain Gardens
Native soils and forests of Western Washington store, filter, and slowly release cool, clean water to streams, wetlands, and the largest estuary on the west coast—Puget Sound. The rich diversity of life in marine and fresh water, as well as on land, depends on clean water to thrive.
As the region grows, native forests and soils are replaced with roads, rooftops and other hard surfaces. When it rains or snows, more water flows from these surfaces than undisturbed areas, carrying oil, fertilizers, pesticides, sediment and other pollutants downstream. In fact, much of the pollution in streams, wetlands and Puget Sound now comes from stormwater (water flowing off developed areas). The added volume of water and associated contaminants from developed land are damaging water resources and harming aquatic life in western Washington.
What is a rain garden?
A rain garden acts like a native forest by collecting, absorbing, and filtering stormwater runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other areas that don’t allow water to soak in. Rain gardens are simply shallow depressions that: Can be shaped and sized to fit your yard. Are constructed with soil mixes that allow water to soak in rapidly and support healthy plant growth.
Can be landscaped with a variety of plants to fit the surroundings.
The Big Picture
Rain gardens are one of the most versatile and effective tools in a new approach to managing stormwater called low impact development (LID). An LID project may incorporate several tools to soak up rain water, reduce stormwater runoff, and filter pollutants. Some examples of these tools include permeable paving, compost-amended soils, vegetated roofs, rainwater collection systems, and rain gardens.
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