Create a Raingarden
Did you know that stormwater runoff carries leaves, grass clippings, fertilizers and pesticides from streets and rooftops that are contaminating your lakes and rivers? The easiest way to help water infiltrate into the ground rather than run off into storm sewers is by creating a raingarden. Strategically place your garden on a site that will intercept rain water runoff. If constructed properly, the garden will drain the water within two days.
Take a Virtual Tour of Raingardens
- View Projects
Videos to Design My Own Raingarden
- How-To Build a Raingarden YouTube Video by DCSWCD (3 min. 12 sec.)
- How-To Build a Raingarden Video by Metro Blooms
- How-To Build a Raingarden YouTube Video by VLAWMO Part 1: 9 min. 33 sec.
- How-To Build a Raingarden YouTube Video by VLAWMO Part 2: 9 min. 41 sec.
- How-To Build a Raingarden YouTube Video by VLAWMO Part 3: 9 min. 46 sec.
Tools to Design My Own Raingarden
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Enter your sun exposure, bloom time and color in the Plant Selector to customize your plant list
- Project Cost Calculator
- Rain Gardens A how-to manual for homeowners from the UW-Extension Service
- Native Plant Brochure (pdf)
- MPCA Plants for Stormwater Design
- DNR Landscaping with Native Plants
The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens Book
- The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens - Design and Installation for Homeowners in the Upper Midwest is a valuable raingarden reference guide for homeowners and professional designers. Thoroughly researched and beautifully illustrated, the book is approachable for beginners, yet contains detailed information for landscape professionals. It contains easy-to-follow instructions on: How to locate, size, and design raingardens, Preparing the soil and garden bed, Selecting and installing plants, Care and maintenance, Example garden plans for almost any setting, Water depth tolerances for over 100 plants. The plants profiled in the book are from Zones 3, 4, and 5 in the Midwest.
Find the Raingarden Book at...
- Amazon.com (online)
- Bachman’s (in store)
- Landscape Alternatives (in store)
- Minnesota State Horticultural Society(in store)
- Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (in store)
- Mother Earth Garden’s (in store)
- Prairie Restorations (in store)
- Terrace Horticultural Books (online and in store)
Organizations interested in wholesale or large volume orders, please email Waterdrop Innovations LLC at raingardens@yahoo.com.
Where can I get more help?
- Search for a Blue Thumb partner to help you design, install and/or provide plants for your project
- Grant Opportunities
- Find an expert to talk to your group