Rain Gardens and Low Maintenance Landscaping

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What can you do to reduce the Stormwater Runoff from your home?  Plant a rain garden (or two or three!!)

What is a rain garden? A rain garden is a shallow, constructed depression that is planted with deep-rooted native plants & grasses. It is located to receive runoff from hard surfaces such as a roof via a downspout, a sidewalk and driveway. Rain gardens slow down the rush of water from these hard surfaces, holds the water for a short period of time and allows it to naturally infiltrate into the ground. 

A rain garden can be thought of as a personal water quality system because it filters the runoff from your roof and lawn and recharges the groundwater.

A rain garden also conserves municipal water resources by reducing the need for irrigation.

Rain gardens are a beautiful and colorful way for homeowners, businesses and municipalities to help ease stormwater problems. There is a growing trend by municipalities and homeowners to incorporate natural processes to help relieve flooding and pollution. (The Rain Garden Network)

How do I get started?

There are many helpful websites and manuals available for how to design and construct a rain garden for your home or office. 

• Print out a Rain Garden Fact sheet and how-to guide by clicking here or visit the Rain Garden Information Center online provided by Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

• “Rain Gardens:  A how-to manual for homeowners,” http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/raingarden/gardens.pdf

• The Native Plant Society of New Jersey has a great “Rain Garden Manual for New Jersey” guide.  Visit www.npsnj.org for for information on rain gardens and to download their wonderful how-to manual. 

• The Ocean County Soil Conservation District is a great source of information for rain garden construction.  Call 609-971-3391 or visit their website to download a “Rain Garden Guide,” http://www.ocscd.org/raingardenguide.pdf. 

Low Maintenance Landscaping

The Low Maintenance Landscaping for the Barnegat Bay Watershed is a guidebook developed by the Ocean County Soil Conservation District and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County for residents of the Barnegat Bay watershed which specifically addresses Ocean County's environment and conditions.  This comprehensive guidebook follows eight simple and effective horticultural techniques and methods which will help you establish your own low maintenance landscape.

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