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Rain gardens at home?
Rain gardens are ideal for areas smaller than 5 acres. Maintenance required is low and benefits are many. Proper plantings provide the beauty of a garden, with flowers that attract butterflies and pollinators. Rain gardens also provide ecological benefits in helping to keep our streams healthy and our water clean.Front rain garden at the trailhead next to the entrance to Bath Community Activity Center Park at 1615 North Cleveland – Massillon Road.
Rain gardens are designed to capture rain water. They are located in depressions and planted with vegetation selected to tolerate both wet and dry conditions. They mimic natural processes by allowing rain water to soak into the ground or evaporate, rather than running directly and rapidly into nearby creeks and streams.
Benefits of Rain Gardens
Decreased flooding and erosion. Flooding and erosion occur when a large volume of rain water overloads creeks and streams. By delaying and reducing rain water runoff, rain gardens reduce the risk of flooding and erosion.
Cleaner water. Rain gardens filter water runoff. After soaking through the soil, water leaving the rain garden is dramatically cleaner than the water that enters it. This means that streams and creeks, such as our own Yellow Creek will be cleaner. In addition, rain gardens may help to replenish ground water supplies.
Beauty and habitat. Rain gardens are heavily planted, typically with a variety of native species. Plants add beauty to our environment and the vegetation provides habitat to wild life. Once established, rain gardens require relatively little maintenance.
No mosquitoes! Rain gardens retain water for no more than a few days. Because mosquitoes require standing water for at least 7 days to complete their life cycle, rain gardens do not harbor mosquitoes.
Rain Garden Contest, 2008 Nancy Cushing organized the Friends of Yellow Creek's Win-a-Rain-Garden Contest. Information and photos.
Rain Garden Resources:
Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners: Protecting our water one yard at a time. (From the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District.)
Rain Garden Plants ... Ideas and Purchases