Heavy rains are more now common due to climate change. For homeowners and renters, this can mean more risk of damages from basement flooding or damage to your foundation. To sop up some excess water in a water in a sustainable way: try rainscaping!
Rainscaping is a natural, sustainable solution that can offset potential damage caused by excess water while adding beauty to your yard.
What Is Rainscaping?
Rainscaping is any combination of plantings, water features, catch basins, permeable pavement and other activities that manage stormwater onsite where it falls, rather than moving it through a pipe or offsite. In addition to rain gardens and bioswales, a diverse landscape that includes trees, shrubs, perennials, mulch and amended soils intercepts rain, slows runoff, and allows more water absorption into the soil and by plants.
Why Rainscape?
Lawns and impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots, patios, and driveways have replaced healthy soils and natural plant communities that once readily absorbed rainwater. The resulting runoff contributes to water pollution, health challenges, streambank erosion, and property damage and loss. You can landscape your yard for both beauty and function. Rainscaping can address specific water issues on your own property such as erosion, wet areas of the yard and difficult-to-mow places, while positively impacting adjacent properties and area streams.
How to rainscape
Starting rainscaping from scratch may seem overwhelming, but the Garden’s Sustainability team has a number of guides to help you navigate!
The main steps for rainscaping are:
- Determine Size and Depth: A 5:1 ratio of drainage area to the area of a rain garden is a good starting point for effective rainscaping.
- Decide on Rain Garden Elements: A rain garden design requires that certain features or elements be included to maximize its potential to manage rainwater effectively. Which you need depends on your yard.
- Organize Water Flow
- Select your plants: Native plants are a must for rainscaping! Consider bloom time, plant needs, uses, and even aesthetics when making your pick.
- Gather Tools and Supplies: Of course you’ll need a shovel, rake, plants or seeds, and compost. Consider also adding an erosion blanket to stabilize the soil.
- Lay It Out and Dig In: Before you get started, you’ll need to remove any existing vegetation, including turf or weeds, mark key areas with flags or stakes, and prep your soil.
- Plant the Rain Garden: Lay out your plants according to the design you’ve chosen and get to planting!
- Maintain the Rain Garden: To make sure your rainscaping efforts are a success, regular maintenance is important. Like with any other garden, you’ll need to water and weed. Annual clean ups help keep it fresh.
Native plants for rainscaping
Native plants are the best option for rainscaping because they are well suited for local conditions and benefit wildlife. The Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening recommends these favorite Missouri natives for rainscaping:
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
- If a tree is wanted in the space
- Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
- Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
More recommendations can be found in these lists for:
Learn more from our Sustainability team
For even more guidance, check out this detailed Rainscaping Guide from the Garden’s sustainability team and refer to their list of Rainscaping Resources.
Written by Catherine Martin | Senior Public Information Officer.
Thanks to the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Sustainability Division and the Kemper Center for Home Gardening for their expertise on this topic.
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