Building a Rain Garden

Click on each step of building a rain garden to learn more.

1. Decide where to place your garden
2. Measure your house to determine size of garden.
3. Start by creating a design
4. Choose your plants
5. Layout the shape of the garden
6. Dig a shallow depression
7. Prepare the soil
8. Time to Plant
9. Mulch the garden
10. Watering and arranging downspouts

Native plants are suggested for rain garden installations because they are best adapted for our climate. A list of plants native to the Midwest can be found here. Our list will be available soon.

You will want to choose plants (flowers and grasses) that will grow well in both wet and dry areas because the rain garden will temporarily fill with rainwater from time to time. You will also want to choose plants that grow well under the conditions that you have chosen your site - sun, shade, or mixed. Don’t forget to combine different plants that will bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall season.

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