ELN Educational Materials

Rain Gardens

Rain Gardens Help the Environment

• Storm water running over driveways, fertilized lawns, and streets can pick up pollutants and wash them into nearby waterways. By redirecting storm water into rain gardens, water pollution can be reduced.
• Rain gardens also …
  • provide habitat for wildlife such as birds and butterflies.
  • can reduce flooding and recharge groundwater.
  • can beautify an area by adding islands of attractive plants.

What are Rain Gardens?

• Rain gardens are sunken perennial or shrub gardens with both water and drought-tolerant plants.
• Rain gardens are primarily designed to manage storm water runoff by directing rain water from rooftops and lawns into the garden where it can infiltrate into the ground.
• Rain gardens are designed to stay ponded for only a few hours after a storm (so they do not support habitat for mosquitoes).

Note: Rain gardens should be located far enough away from foundations to avoid the possibility of wet basements.

Rain Garden Design Resources

Some of the following information requires Adobe Acrobat .

• Rain Garden Installation at the Tolland Agricultural Center
• Rain Gardens of West Michigan
• Healthy Landscapes - University of Rhode Island
• Water Quality and the Home Landscape - University of Connecticut
• Rain Gardens: A How-To Manual for Homeowners
• Rain Garden Site and Soil Assessment

• Soil Quality and Site Assessment Card for Connecticut Community Gardeners (151 KB)

Other Information 

• Where the Land and Water Meet: A Guide for Protection and Restoration of Riparian Areas 
• Useful and Fun Field Guides for Connecticut
• Butterfly Nectar Sources: Non-Native, Perennial Garden Plants Rich in Nectar
• Native and Non-Native Caterpillar Host Plants for Showy Butterfly Species
• Butterfly Nectar Sources: Nectar-Rich, Non-Native, Annual Plants for Butterfly Gardens
• Butterfly Nectar Sources: Nectar-Rich Connecticut Native Plants
• Butterfly Nectar Sources: Weedy, Non-Native, Naturalized Plants
• Learn More About Woodland Vernal Pools
• Hints for Understanding Scientific Plant Names in Nursery Catalogs and on Plant Labels
   

Backyard Conservation Tip Sheets

• Backyard Pond
• Backyard Wetland
• Butterfly Gardens
• Composting
• Invasive Plants
• Low Maintenance Lawn Care
• Mulching
• Native Plants
• Nutrient Management
• Outdoor Classrooms
• Pervious Surfaces
• Pest Management
• Rain Gardens
• Site Planning
• Terracing
• Tree Planting
• Water Conservation
• Water Gardens
• Wildlife Habitat
  

For more information, contact Vivian Felten, (860) 626-8258, Ext. 202.

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