There are many ways you can reduce water pollution, but rain gardens may be the most beautiful of them all! A rain garden is a shallow depression in your yard that captures rainwater from your roof, driveway, and other non-porous surfaces, allowing it to soak into the soil instead of entering storm sewers and polluting local waterways. Rain gardens are planted with native plants and make an attractive, low maintenance addition to your yard. When planted with the right types of plants, rain gardens also attract birds, butterflies and bees.

This overview class will teach you where to locate your rain garden, how to size it, what to plant and how to maintain as a beautiful landscape feature for years to come. We will also discuss the installation of cisterns. Hand outs and information will be provided free of charge and we will discuss opportunities to gain hands-on experience by working with ECWA staff as they install rain gardens.

Instructors:  The class will be taught by staff from the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (ECWA). Funding for the class is provided by the City of Durham Stormwater Services Division.