Grow a gorgeous rain garden
By: Garden Gate staff
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Grow a gorgeous rain garden
This rain garden was the perfect solution to a driveway that sloped away from the house. And although rain is usually a welcome relief for gardeners, sometimes the run off carries lots of contaminants. These specialized plantings catch and hold water for a few hours, allowing soil microbes and roots to filter contaminants. Besides being hard-working, these gardens can be good-looking, too!
Click ahead for more details about how this rain garden works.
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Eye-catching edging
The rain garden has a slight ridge at the front to keep water from flowing on down the lawn. A striking edge of red geraniums (Pelargonium hybrids) grow on top of the ridge. Since this spot is drier than the rest of the garden, it’s the perfect place for them: Geraniums don’t like soggy soil; if the ground is too wet, they’ll rot.
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Repeating curb appeal
It doesn’t matter what style or purpose a garden has — when it’s in your front yard, you want something attractive. Though it sounds like a tall order for a bed as utilitarian as a rain garden, it’s not as hard as you might think. Just repeat a few of the same plants from the foundation area in the bed for a cohesive look. Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) and spike blazing star (Liatris spicata) easily made the move — they thrive with the additional moisture but don’t mind drying out between rains.
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Rely on native plants
When it comes to rain gardens, natives are at the top of the plant list. They’re adapted to the climate and soil of their respective areas, so they don’t need a lot of pampering to look good. But cultivars of native plants can be just as low-maintenance. They may have different flower colors, grow larger or smaller or have a tidier growth habit than their parents. For example, you might be familiar with black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida sullivantii). The cultivar here, ‘Goldsturm’, has bigger flowers and a more compact habit than the species.
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