Rain Garden Information

There are many rain garden "how to" manuals on the internet - be careful following their instructions!  Many have been put together by groups just getting started themselves; the information they provide is sometimes incorrect, in addition to often including plant recommendations not suitable for Iowa and/or small sites.

We have created several documents to help avoid bad advice and inappropriate plant recommendations:

City of Ames Rain Garden Program

Some good "how-to" websites that still need to be read with caution, compared to others, and plant lists compared to ours (below).

Plants Suitable for Raingardens in Iowa

Plants Often Recommended for Raingardens that Should Be Used With Caution

 

We hope your raingarden is a success and you have a positive overall experience !