By Jeanne Yeoman, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
Rain Gardens. When it rains, the water that comes off rooftops, lawns, and driveways drains into the stormwater system and eventually ends up in rivers, lakes, and streams. This runoff picks up pesticides, fertilizers, pet waste, and other pollutants. You can help prevent this pollution by planting a rain garden.
A rain garden is an area designed to capture runoff and utilize it using the filtration action of amended soil and plant roots. Using native and perennial plants, grasses, and flowers, rain gardens can add beauty and provide food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.