About Rain Gardens
Central Middle School Rain Garden; Built Aug. 08 |
• How do they work? • Who uses them? • Benefits of Rain Gardens • How-To Build your own • Plant suggestions • Contractors Trained in Rain Garden Design |
What is a Rain Garden?
- A rain garden is a depression in the landscape designed to catch and filter the water that runs off your roof, parking lot, and other impervious surfaces.
- Rain gardens contains native plants, such as shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers that help absorb and filter runoff. With roots that reach deeper into the soil, native plants promote infiltration better than a shallow root system and can handle the drought flood situation they have been planted in.
How Do Rain Gardens Work?
Slow it down, spread it out, soak it up! Through location, ponding depth, and good drainage, rain gardens divert water away from the storm drain system and filter it into the ground.
- LOCATION: Rain gardens are situated in a low spot in the landscape so that they collect runoff.
- POND the Runoff: They are built up on the edges with a berm so that a large amount of runoff can pool on the surface.
- DRAINAGE: With a layer of gravel at the bottom of the garden they are very well drained and can filter the water back into the ground rapidly during and after a rain event.
- FILTER: By allowing water to collect, pond, evaporate and filter though native plants, soil, sand and gravel into the ground,, runoff is cleaned, transformed and minimized.
Who Uses Rain Gardens?
Rain gardens are used throughout the United States. Various urban cities have opted to implement a large scale rain garden projects in hopes of extending the life of their failing storm drain systems rather than go for the full on replacement right away. LID Works! Rain gardens are easy to construct, and can be built on small or large lots. Kids love rain gardens, and they have proven to be excellent outdoor classrooms that bring families and neighbors together.
The Municipality of Anchorage Watershed Management Services has adapted a rain garden design to the unique northern climate of Anchorage.
Building a rain garden will be one of the best and easiest things you can do to protect and conserve Anchorage’s water resources. By installing rain gardens throughout Anchorage we will help prevent excessive flooding, reduce stormwater pollutants, and improve water quality for fish, wildlife, and recreational users.
Why Build a Rain Garden? Benefits!
Why build a rain garden? What can rain garden do for you and our community?
Top 10 Reason to Build a Rain Garden:
- Reduce stream flooding and storm drain overflow events
- Reduce pollution sedimentation in our waterways
- Provide habitat for wildlife
- Recharge groundwater, rain gardens allow water to filter into the ground rather than running along the surface
- Increase property value and curb side appeal
- Easy yard maintenance, hardy native plants and perennials return each year, out-compete weeds, and once established require little to no watering
- Improve neighborhoods, work together with your neighbors, cut down on flooding, increase vegetation
- Decrease municipal costs to maintain the storm drain system. Less sediment in the storm drains means less time and resources spend maintaining and cleaning it out.
- Get Money Back! If you live within the Municipality of Anchorage you can be reimbursed for half your costs to build a rain garden.
- Play in the dirt and have fun!
How To Build your own Rain Garden and GET MONEY BACK!
The Municipality of Anchorage has developed the Rain Garden Grant Reimbursement Program to give residents technical and financial support in building a rain garden. The MOA will reimburse you for half your cost of installing a rain garden up to $750. More funds are available at the 50% reimbursement rate for larger sized garden (300sqft +). Gardens designed to treat water from large contributing areas like schools-sized roofs or parking lots may need additional technical guidance along with the additional funding.
Download the grant application here: Grant Application/Agreement
To get started fill out the grant application and return it to us via fax, mail, or email. Apply to Get Money Back!
**For large projects above the $750 amount please contact us directly**
View the 6-Easy Steps guidance: Build a Rain Garden in 6 Easy Steps
For a brief introduction to the rain garden construction and reimbursement process take a look at the 6-Easy Steps Brochure. For more detailed instructions and larger diagrams view the How-To Manual below.
Download the manual here: Rain Gardens: A How-To Manual for Home Owners
The guidance manual is intended as an in depth resource for residents, guiding them through the process of building a rain garden on their property. The How-To Manual will walk you through any fears, reservations, or questions you may have about rain gardens. It is intended to provide encouragement, tools, and the answers you will need to construct and maintain a rain garden.
Grab a shovel, get some plants, and just do it! Most of all have fun, use this as an excuse to gather your friends or neighbors and work together to build something you can be proud of.
Rain Garden Cross Section-
Look for this sign at the Taku Lake Rain Garden on the Campbell Creek Trail. Garden located at the end of 76th near Old Seward.
Plant Suggestions
The following table lists well-suited plants for rain gardens in South Central Alaska. Native plants come adapted to the harsh Alaska environment and save you work in the long run. Avoid invasive plants, do your research. Perennials and annuals are okay to plant, but consider the drought and flood environment when you make your selections.
***NEW! The Alaska Plant Materials Center has donated 8 types of native plant seed to be used in rain gardens. View a list of Native Plant Seeds Available here!***
PMC Plant Flyers - For great additional information about Alaska native plants and photos visit the PMC Plant Flyer on revegetation. Produced by Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Agriculture Plant Materials Center.
Check out the Alaska Master Gardener's Northern Gardening Tips for other ideas.
Latin Name |
Common Name |
Bloom Time |
Bloom Color |
Height |
Spacing |
| Shrubs | |||||
| Aronia melanocarpa | Black Chokeberry | 3-5 feet | 4 feet | ||
| *Cornus sericea | Red-twig Dogwood | Early Summer | white | 5-8 feet | 5 feet |
| Cornus sericea ‘flaviramea’ | Yellow-twig Dogwood | Early Summer | white | 5-8 feet | 5 feet |
| *Viburnum edule | Highbush Cranberry | Spring | white | 4-8 feet | 3 feet |
| **Willow | Willow | Spring | varies | ||
| Potentilla | |||||
| Sweet Gale | |||||
| Perennials | |||||
| **Aquilegia | Columbine | All summer | varies | 6-36 inches | 12 inches |
| *Aruncus dioicus | Goat’s Beard | ||||
| **Aconitum delphinifolium | Monkshood | ||||
| *Dodecatheon pulchellum | Shooting Star | ||||
| *Geranium erianthum | Wild geranium | ||||
| Devil's Club | |||||
| *Athyrium felix-femina | Lady Fern | ||||
| *Coryadalis Semprivirous | |||||
| *Frittilaria camschatcensis | Chocolate Lily | ||||
| **Dodecatheon | Shooting Star | Spring | violet | 12-18 inches | 12 inches |
| *Dryopteris dilitata | Wood Fern | 30-36 inches | 24-30 inches | ||
| *Geranium erianthum | Cranesbill Geranium | Spring/Summer | purple/white | 12-24 inches | 12 inches |
| Hemerocallis ‘stella de oro’ | Stella de Oro Daylily | All Summer | yellow | 12 inches | 12 inches |
| *Iris setosa | Alaska Wild Iris | Early Summer | purple/white | 18-30 inches | 18 inches |
| Iris psuadacoris | Iris | Early Summer | yellow | 18-30 inches | 18 inches |
| Ligularia (x2) stenocephala/ przewalskii | The Rocket/ Ligularia | Late Summer | yellow/gold | 36-60 inches | 24 inches |
| *Matteuccia struthiopteris | Ostrich Fern | 36-48 inches | 24-30 inches | ||
| *Mertensia | Bluebells | Spring | blue/purple | 18-30 inches | 18 inches |
| *Myosotis alpestris | Forget-Me-Not | Spring/Summer | blue/pink | 4-12 inches | 12 inches |
| **Polemonium | Jacob’s Ladder | Summer | blue | 12-36 inches | 12 inches |
| Thalictrum | Meadow Rue | Summer | pink/white/purple | 36-48 inches | 18 inches |
| Trollius | Globeflower | Spring/Summer | yellow/orange | 24-36 inches | 12 inches |
| Filipendula | Meadowsweet | Late Summer | white/pink | 18-60 inches | 24-36 inches |
| Grasses and Sedges | |||||
| *Carex gmelini | Native Sedge | 36 inches | 30 inches | ||
| Miscanthus sinesis | Red Flame Grass | ||||
| *Deschampsia cespitosa | Tufted Hair Grass | ||||
| **Elymus mollis | Wild Rye | ||||
*Indicates Native Plant Species |
|||||
Contractor Suggestions: Landscapers, Nurseries, Top Soil Providers, Excavators, and Architects (Trained in Rain Garden Installation)
Follow this link for a Printer Friendly List of Landscapers and Nurseries Trained in Rain Gardens.
FREE! Rain garden Retail Posteravailable to establishments trained in rain garden installation.
Please contact us to request your free poster and brochures.
For native plant supplier around the state visit the Directory of Alaska Native Plant Sources
Provided by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Agriculture.
If you are a contractor or small business interested in being trained in rain garden installation or added to this list, visit the Events page for the next training date or contact us.
Landscapers
Contractor |
Address |
Phone |
Email/Website |
| AK Ponds and Landscaping | PO Box 877122 Wasilla, AK 99687 |
(907) 357-2772 | |
Arctic Sun Gardening (Garden layout and planting only) |
Anchorage, AK |
(907) 348-6153 |
|
Evergreen Nursery & Garden Center |
12580 Old Seward Hwy |
(907) 344-2588 |
|
Faltz Landscaping |
1401 Labar Street |
(907) 349-4382 |
|
Green Acres of Alaska ($4,000 minimum bid) |
8850 Runamuck Place |
(907) 522-5740 |
|
| Green Earth Landworks | 5440 B St. Anchorage, AK 99518 |
(907) 243-7892 | Christina@greenearthalaska.com www.greenearthalaska.com |
| Ground Effects Landscaping | 1313 Laona Circle Anchorage, AK 99518 |
(907) 272-0324 | groundfx@alaska.net www.groundfxlandscaping.com |
Inlet Garden |
P.O. Box 241592 Anchorage, AK 99524 |
(907) 301-5983 | ryan@inletgarden.com |
| Intrinsic Landscapes LLC | 701 S. Klevin 25AB Anchorage AK 99508 |
(907) 748-0642 | |
| Kelly Lawn & Landscaping, LLC | 725 E 81st Ave, Suite 5 Anchorage, AK 99518 |
(907) 441-8923 | colby@kellyllc.net www.kellyllc.net |
| Steelhead Landscaping and Supply | 8141 Dimond Hook Drive Anchorage, AK 99507 | (907) 346-4600 | www.steelheadlandscaping.com |
Nurseries
Contractor |
Address |
Phone |
Email/Website |
Alaska Trees |
11500 Old Seward Hwy |
(907) 360-TREE |
|
| Arctic Sun Gardening | Anchorage, AK | (907) 348-6153 | arcticsungardens@hotmail.com www.arcticsungardens.com |
Evergreen Nursery & Garden Center |
12580 Old Seward Hwy |
(907) 344-2588 |
|
| Green Earth Landworks | 5440 B St. Anchorage, AK 99518 |
(907) 243-7892 | Christina@greenearthalaska.com www.greenearthalaska.com |
| Ground Effects Landscaping | 1313 Laona Circle Anchorage, AK 99518 |
(907) 272-0324 | groundfx@alaska.net www.groundfxlandscaping.com |
| In the Garden Nursery | 7307 OBrien St. |
(907) 346-4247 | |
Mile 5.2 Greenhouse LLC |
17026 Santa Maria Drive |
(907) 694-3978 |
|
Tryck’s Nursery |
3625 Rabbit Creek Road |
(907) 345-2507 |
Excavators
Contractor |
Address |
Phone |
Email/Website |
| GLW Enterprises (Can do concrete break-up and patio preparation too) | Anchorage | (907) 333-6982 | GLWEnterprises.garywitt@gmail.com |
Architects
Contractor |
Address |
Phone |
Email/Website |
| Corvus Design: Peter Briggs | 3017 Sheldon Jackson St. Anchorage, AK 99508 | (907) 229-1647 | www.corvus-design.com |
Earthscape: Eric Morey |
1343 G St., Suite 101 |
(907) 279-2688 |
|
KPB Architects: Tamas Deek |
425 G St.,
Suite 800 |
(907) 274-7443 |
|
Land Design North |
441 W. 5th Ave., Suite 200 |
(907) 276-5885 |
|
Tryck, Nyman, Hayes Inc: Luanne Urfer |
911 W. 8th Ave. |
(907) 279-0543 |