5 benefits of rainscaping

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Rainscaping is a useful and aesthetic way for communities to manage runoff water.

“When rain or melted snow flows over the ground, it collects oil and other pollutants to our natural bodies of water,” said John Orick, Purdue Master Gardener state coordinator, in a YouTube video.

“This is harmful to water quality. So, communities use sustainable landscape design principles to protect their natural bodies of water and water sources for communities. This is called rainscaping.”

The Purdue Rainscaping Education Program provides training and resources on rainscaping practices that can be installed in residential settings or small-scale public spaces projects.

The Benefits

Five benefits of rainscaping:

1. Easy to design, install and maintain.

2. Provide aesthetic appeal while blending into the landscape.

3. Provide habitat for wildlife, butterflies and beneficial insects.

4. Improve water quality by filtering nutrients and some heavy metals.

5. Minimize flood risk by storing and infiltrating stormwater.

Planting native plants appropriate for the climate zone will create ideal soil conditions to increase stormwater infiltration, carbon capture and pollution absorption.

“Consider native plant species that are indigenous to an area and uniquely adapted to grow in the ecosystem,” a free Extension guide advises.

“Well-adapted horticultural species with deep roots are also appropriate. The deep roots may increase your infiltration rates, even in poorly drained soils.”

The Purdue Rainscaping Education Program offers free resources for people to learn how to design and install their own system.

Learn more at https://extension.purdue.edu/rainscaping/.