Rain Garden Added To The Stow Community Garden

Press release from the City of Stow:

May 25, 2021

By Tracie McNutt

Rain Garden Added to the Stow Community Garden

The City of Stow will be constructing a Rain Garden in the Stow Community Gardens early this summer. The Rain Garden will be roughly 1,800 sq. ft. and will be located in the southwest corner of the Community Gardens. Based on the existing soil type the Rain Garden will hold 4” of storm water and will be drained within 24-48 hours after a rain event. It will consist of native perennial plants that will be selected and planted by the Stow Garden Committee. The City will be providing dates on when planting will take place to allow for help from local volunteers.

What is a Rain Garden and What are its Benefits?

The Stow Community Rain Garden will consist of native plants that will provide habitat and food for wildlife as well as pollinators that will help increase the crop yield in our community garden. The rain garden will also help filter and remove nonpoint source pollution including fertilizers and pesticides from our local waterways.

A rain garden consists of perennial native plants that don’t mind getting their feet wet. They are designed to capture and filter storm water runoff. The benefits include, keeping water clean by filtering storm water runoff before entering local waterways, provides habitats and food for wildlife including birds, butterflies and pollinators and alleviate problems associated with flooding and drainage.

Although this is a large scale rain garden it will provide an example of how they are constructed and how any homeowner can install one on their own property.

This press release was produced by the City of Stow. The views expressed here are the author’s own.