Raingardens

What is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a planted depression in the landscape that collects and allows rainwater runoff from hard surfaces to be absorbed. Rain gardens are planted with native plants, and include a soil media and mulch. Rain gardens typically are used to reduce residential rooftop runoff or impervious surfaces on residential property.

Rain gardens offer multiple benefits to the community and the local environment, including:

• Reduced flooding and erosion

• Pollution prevention

• Groundwater recharge

• Enhanced wildlife habitat

• Improved aesthetics; and

• Increased property values.

Maintaining Your Raingarden

Your rain garden will need a little maintenance for it to be beautiful and successful. If you are not familiar with your plants, take a photograph of the leaves. You can then differentiate your plants from weeds.

SPRING

• Weed your garden regularly to prevent extensive weeding work in the future.

• Be alert and pull out tree saplings before they take root.

• Cut perennials and grasses to the ground or a basal rosette (see below).

• Replace mulch when bare spots start to appear or when the mulch becomes caked and will not allow water to filter through. Do not allow mulch to touch the base of a plant. Never mulch cardinal flower.

• Place weeds that have not formed seed and plant material that is not diseased into compost bins.

• Prune blooming shrubs after the blooms fade. No fertilizer or pest control should be needed.

• Once established, adding drip hoses defeats the principle of a rain garden.

SUMMER

• Continue to weed as needed.

• Water your whole garden only when you have not received 1 inch of rain that week. Water from a rain barrel or garden hose until you reach 1 inch.

• Some perennials may need trimming to keep them tidy later in the summer.

FALL

• Water all shrubs and trees well if we have a dry season.

• Continue to weed as needed.

• Use shredded leaves as mulch (up to 2 inches).

• Leave interesting perennials to enjoy through the winter. Trim any messy looking plants.

WINTER

• Trim any plants damaged by snow/ice after the snow subsides.

• Rain gardens with rock can be sprayed with glyphosate (i.e. Roundup) to kill weeds at any time of the year.

Learn More About Rain Gardens

Check out UME Raingarden Resources

Raingardens Across Maryland

• Raingardens Across MD - Butterfly Swale, Low Maintenance, 250 SF, Coastal Plain, Full Sun

• Raingardens Across MD - Butterfly Swale, Low Maintenance, 250 SF, Coastal Plain, Pt Shade-Shade

Columbia Association

• CA Rain Garden #1 - Sun

• CA Rain Garden #1 - Partial Sun

• CA Rain Garden #2 - Sun

• CA Rain Garden #2 - Partial Sun

• CA Rain Garden #2A - Sun

• CA Rain Garden #2A - Partial Sun

• CA Rain Garden #3 - Sun

• CA Rain Garden #3 - Partial Sun

• CA Rain Garden #4 - Sun

• CA Rain Garden #4 - Partial Sun

• CA Rain Garden #5 - Sun

• CA Rain Garden #5 - Partial Sun

Garden Signs with QR Codes

You can print your own Garden Sign for any of the Garden Templates above.  

• Just find the cooresponding file in Garden Signs with QR Codes.

• Print out two (2) slides per page.

• Fold over the printout and laminate.

• Your guests will have an attractive sign to view and the ability to easily learn more online.

Garden Templates Are Offered in These Languages