Native plants and rain gardens directly benefit our lakes and streams. Once established, these landscapes are easy to take care of and beautiful. If you are looking for a summer project, think about a rain garden!
Rain gardens and native plants: A beautiful solution to water pollution
When it rains, water can't soak into impervious surfaces like rooftops, driveways, and roads. Instead, it runs off into streets and storm sewers creating what we call stormwater. From our streets to our streams, stormwater picks up nutrients, dirt, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, bacteria, and garbage.
Rain gardens are a popular landscaping choice that prevent water pollution by allowing stormwater to soak into the ground before it runs off. Rain gardens and native plants also:
Prevent erosion by holding soil in place with their deep roots.
Attract birds and butterflies.
Require little watering and maintenance once established.
Building a rain garden
Rain gardens are concave gardens that collect runoff from down spouts or driveways. Plants that tolerate "wet feet" should be planted in the bottom, while plants that need less water are planted on the edges.
They take a little work to install, but a do-it-yourselfer can do it. See the process from start to finish in a short video by Metro Blooms. Then use this list of handy resources to start selecting your location and plants.
The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens is a handy manual that leads home owners through the steps to designing and installing rain gardens in their yards.
Blue Thumb also has a nifty Plant Selector Tool. Simply enter in the conditions in your yard—shady or sunny, wet or dry—and the tool will create a list of native plants that will grow well in those conditions.
Watering your lawn and garden: Tips to reduce water use
Household water consumption rises dramatically in the summer due to watering lawns and gardens. Make the most of your water use.
Increase the organic content of your soil by adding compost. Organic material holds more moisture than sand or clay. Sprinkle compost on your grass, fill your pots with compost, and dig it into your gardens each spring. You cannot add too much compost!
Replace grass with native plants. Native plants require less water and maintenance. See the article above for resources and ideas.
Use mulch to cover bare ground. Mulch—straw, woodchips, or other organic material—will hold moisture in the ground and minimize weeds.
Water deeply, weekly. Most plants need one inch of water a week. Once plants are established, a weekly soaking rain or watering will encourage them to grow deep roots. You can place a tuna can in the lawn when watering—when it is full, you've watered one inch. Resist the urge to water just a little bit each day.
Water wisely to reduce evaporation. Water before 10 a.m. when there is less wind and sunlight. Use a sprinkler that emits large drops of water, low and close to the ground. Use a soaker hose in gardens, so water will drip slowly into the ground. And lastly, avoid watering the sidewalk and driveway.
Days of our green lives: Community events and resources
Your actions have a direct impact on water quality. Learn how to prevent stormwater pollution from impacting our precious surface waters at the Lake Superior Watershed Festival, Jun 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Duluth Kmart parking lot.
Learn about living green in northeastern Minnesota at the Small Footprint Living Fair. Registration is required for some workshops. June 12-13, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Cook County Community Center (Grand Marais).
If you live in a rural area of Minnesota, you may be interested in The Conservation Funding Guide, an online tool Minnesota landowners can use to find out about conservation practices, programs, and payments.
The Children & Nature Network published a tool kit to provide inspiration, information, tips, and resources for those who are interested in creating a Nature Club for Families.
Look for more events on the SEEK and NextStep calendars.
Missed an issue? Read past newsletters in our online archive.
When it rains, water can't soak into impervious surfaces like rooftops, driveways, and roads. Instead, it runs off into streets and storm sewers creating what we call stormwater. From our streets to our streams, stormwater picks up nutrients, dirt, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, bacteria, and garbage. 
Watering your lawn and garden: Tips to reduce water use 
