MISSION
STATEMENT

The Lorain Soil and Water Conservation District provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve the natural resources and environment in Lorain County.

 

Agricultural Center
42110 Russia Road
Elyria, OH 44035-6813
Phone: 440.326.5800
FAX: 440.326.5807


Rain Gardens


What is a Rain Garden?

It's an attractive, landscaped area planted with perennial native plants which don’t mind getting ‘wet feet.’ They are beautiful gardens, built in depressions which are designed to capture and filter storm water runoff from impervious surfaces around the home, such as rooftops and driveways.

Rain garden photo

The benefits of rain gardens are multiple and include their ability to perform the following functions:

  • Help keep water clean by filtering storm water runoff before it enters local waterways.
  • Help alleviate problems associated with flooding and drainage.
  • Enhance the beauty of individual yards and communities.
  • Provide habitat and food for wildlife including birds and butterflies.
  • Recharge the ground water.

Maintenance of rain gardens is fairly simple. That’s the beauty of using native plants in your garden. Native plants are well adapted to their natural surroundings and do not require fertilizers or pesticides. If you purchase plants and do the work yourself, the cost will be about $3—$5 per square foot. If you hire a landscape consultant do design, construct, and select and install plants, the cost will increase to about $10—15 per square foot.


Your Guide Book

Lorain SWCD has Rain Garden Manuals for Homeowners at no charge. The cost for shipping and handling is $2.00. You can also download a presentation on designing, constructing, and maintaining a rain garden (2.6 MB).


Rain garden photo


 

 
May 18, 2012