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Rain Gardens
What is a Rain Garden?
Rain gardens are bowl-shaped gardens that capture polluted stormwater runoff from our roofs, parking lots, and roads. Rain gardens absorb and clean stormwater, keeping pollution out of our local waters. Rain gardens come in all shapes and sizes, making them a great addition to any yard.
Rain gardens are a great way to reduce your impact on Puget Sound and our local waters, and the Pierce Conservation District is here to help! Every year, our staff works with homeowners, schools, and community groups to design and plant rain gardens on their property. These new gardens keep pollution out of Puget Sound while beautifying our community. Contact PCD today to set up a site visit with our staff to see if a rain garden is a good option for you!
| Green Stormwater Mini-Grant | Get up to $4,000 and design support for a raingarden | Apply for a mini-grant by Oct. 29 |
| Splash Grant | Get up to $4,000 to support a water quality project in Tacoma | Click here to apply |
| Watershed Council Grants | Get up to $2,500 for projects that help recover one of Pierce County's three watersheds | Find grants available for your watershed here |
To learn more about rain gardens and how you can get started making your own, check out these resources:
Washington State University's Rain Garden Home Page
For a site visit to your property, contact Melissa Buckingham
Water Quality Program Director
melissab@piercecd.org
Phone: 253.845.9770 ext. 109
How It Works
1. Site Visit. District staff will meet you on site to discuss your ideas and options for a rain garden.
2. Soil Infiltration Test. Before planting the rain garden, you’ll want to see how well your soil absorbs rainwater by doing a simple infiltration test.
3. Design Your Rain Garden. Working with district staff, design your rain garden and agree to plant it within a year.
4. Prep Your Site. Select a contractor (or roll up your sleeves) to move soil and create the space for your rain garden. If you need suggestions, District staff can provide you a list of trained contractors and DIY tips for prepping your site for a rain garden.
5. Plant Your Rain Garden. Work with District staff to take advantage of wholesale plant prices to get all of the plants you need for your garden.
6. Watch your Garden Grow. After planting your rain garden, enjoy seeing the plants grow and bloom. Keep an eye out for any unwanted plants and ensure the rain garden is holding water during storm events to later soak up. District staff are available to help you with any big maintenance problems your facing.