- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Community Center
- Rain Garden
Rain Garden
Many of you have shown interest in the Rain Garden at the North West corner of the Prairie Township Community Center Property.
Rain gardens are shallow gardens designed to absorb rainwater runoff from rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, roads, and other hard surfaces, including turfgrass lawns. They allow water to soak into the ground, reducing runoff. Tough plants that thrive during brief periods of inundation as well as drought do well in rain gardens, and they can be installed in a variety of landscape and commercial landscapes.
How do they work?
- Rainwater is directed into the garden via rain chains, rain barrel overflow, downspouts, driveway drains, curb cuts, dry streambeds, and sheet flow
- When water soaks in, less stormwater erodes our streams and rivers
- Deep-rooted plants break up hard soils and create channels for water to move through
- Plant uptake, physical filtration, and biological processes reduce contaminants like oil, metals, and nutrients
What are their benefits?
- Reduce localized flooding
- Beautify your landscape
- Create important habitat
I'd like to be a rain gardener! What do I do?
Franklin Soil and Water provides technical assistance (site assessments, soils suitability, and planting lists) to landowners, local community groups, and municipalities. Franklin County Soil and Water also serve as the lead for the Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative (CORGI), a collaborative effort to promote the benefits of rain gardens for community beautification and clean water. FCSWD are often available to provide assistance with planning and technical assistance. View some examples of rain gardens, step-by-step instructions, and recommended plants here!
For some people woody rain gardens can be an appealing alternative to traditional rain gardens. While woody plant material may not be suitable in all rain gardens, it can be easier to keep an area with a tree and/or shrubs free from weeds than to weed a garden with perennials and native grasses. Trees and shrubs are also familiar landscape plants and have potential to capture even more water than flowering perennials and native grasses during certain times of the year. View more information on Woody Rain Gardens (PDF).