Wendy’s Wanderings

Rain Gardens

August 8, 2024

Rain is a favorite topic of gardeners. In this category we often have a Goldilocks attitude of too much or too little and not many incidences of just right. Following the recent tropical storm, many Floridians find themselves in the “too much” category.

Considering that one inch of rain on one acre of land is more than 27,000 gallons of water, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing flooding in many areas. In the US around 70% of our annual precipitation evaporates into the atmosphere or is transpired by vegetation. The other 30% reaches creeks, ponds, lakes, or the ocean as runoff. When rain falls on impervious surfaces like rooftops, concrete, and asphalt, it carries pollutants with it to other water bodies — this is known as stormwater runoff. As our communities become more and more paved, stormwater runoff becomes an environmental issue that needs our attention.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program teaches the importance of managing stormwater runoff effectively. One of the simplest methods is to ensure that downspouts from your roof gutters direct water into landscape beds, rather than onto paved surfaces. While well-drained soil can absorb rainwater, paved driveways cannot. Many gardeners use rain chains to channel roof runoff into planted beds, or they create rain gardens.

A rain garden is a low section of the landscape planted with appropriate plants that like to get their “feet” wet. The garden collects rainwater, giving it a chance to slow down and be absorbed by plants and the soil. Downspouts directed into the rain garden can temporarily hold water there instead it of becoming runoff. It is not a pond or water feature, because the water doesn’t pool there and it’s designed with interesting plants.

When selecting plants for your rain garden, choose those that can withstand both dry spells and occasional waterlogging. Opt for species that provide year-round interest and have a cohesive appearance. Native grasses like Fakahatchee grass, muhly grass, and cordgrass often serve as effective anchors. Flowering plants such as blue-eyed grass, iris, goldenrod, swamp sunflower, crinum, and frogfruit not only beautify the garden but also attract pollinators. Depending on the size of your rain garden, you may also include shrubs like wax myrtle or button bush. A greater number of plants means a more extensive root system to absorb rainwater.

To determine the ideal size of a rain garden for your house and lot size, refer to this rain garden guide (pdf).

Incorporating rain gardens into your Florida-Friendly landscape offers numerous benefits. They enhance your garden’s beauty, support local wildlife including butterflies and birds, facilitate on-site rainwater absorption, and help recharge the local aquifer. Additionally, they reduce pollution by preventing stormwater runoff from entering nearby water bodies.

— Wendy Wilber