When it rains, water doesn’t always soak into the ground where it falls. Roofs, driveways, sidewalks, and streets create hard surfaces that cause rainwater to run off quickly. As stormwater flows across these surfaces, it can pick up dirt, fertilizer, pet waste, oil, and other pollutants before entering storm drains and eventually reaching local lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

A rain garden is one simple way homeowners can help.

What Is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a shallow, landscaped depression designed to collect and absorb stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, patios, and other hard surfaces.

Unlike a pond, a rain garden is designed to drain within a day or two after a rain event. The water temporarily pools, then slowly soaks into the soil where natural processes help filter pollutants and recharge groundwater.

Rain gardens can be planted with native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and other plants that tolerate both wet and dry conditions.

How Rain Gardens Help

Rain gardens provide several benefits for both homeowners and the community.

• Reduce Runoff – By slowing and absorbing rainfall, rain gardens reduce the amount of water entering storm drains, ditches, and waterways.
• Improve Water Quality – As stormwater filters through soil and plant roots, sediment and pollutants are removed before reaching rivers and lakes.
• Recharge Groundwater – Instead of quickly leaving the area through storm pipes, water is allowed to soak into the ground where it can help replenish local groundwater supplies.
• Reduce Erosion – Slowing runoff helps prevent soil from washing away during heavy rainfall.
• Support Pollinators – Native flowers and grasses provide habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Add Beauty to Your Yard – Rain gardens can become attractive landscape features that add color, texture, and seasonal interest to residential properties.

Where Should a Rain Garden Be Located?

Rain gardens work best in areas where water naturally flows.

Common locations include:

• Below roof downspouts
• Near driveways and sidewalks
• Near the bottom of gentle slopes

Avoid:

• At the bottom of gentle slopes
• In low areas of a yard that stay wet for long periods of time

Rain gardens should generally be located away from building foundations and septic systems.

What Plants Work Best?

Native plants are often the best choice because they:

• Develop deep root systems
• Tolerate both wet and dry conditions
• Require less watering once established
• Provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife

Nebraska native grasses, sedges, wildflowers, and shrubs can all be incorporated into a rain garden design.

Are Rain Gardens Mosquito Breeding Areas?

No.

A properly designed rain garden drains within 24 to 48 hours after a storm. Mosquitoes typically need standing water for several days to complete their life cycle.

In fact, rain gardens help reduce standing water by encouraging infiltration rather than allowing water to remain in puddles throughout a yard.

Getting Started

Rain gardens can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose.

Before digging:

1. Observe where water flows during a rain event.
2. Identify areas where runoff naturally collects.
3. Consider the size of the area draining to the garden.
4. Choose plants suited to local conditions.
5. Contact utility locating services before digging.

Even a small rain garden can help reduce runoff and improve water quality.

What You Can Do

• Redirect downspouts toward landscaped areas when appropriate.
• Consider installing a rain garden in areas where water naturally collects.
• Plant native species that tolerate both wet and dry conditions.
• Reduce the amount of stormwater leaving your property.
• Share information about rain gardens with neighbors and community groups.

Small changes across many properties can have a significant impact on flooding, water quality, and groundwater recharge throughout the community.

Our Water, Our Responsibility.