Rain Gardens: A Beautiful Solution to Pollution

February 06, 2024

Tallahassee has a beautiful natural environment, and residents can help preserve it by using sustainable gardening practices in their yards. Spring is the perfect time for gardening. Why not plant a garden that helps improve the environment, too? Install a rain garden!

A rain garden is a slightly depressed area landscaped with flowers and other moisture-tolerant plants, shrubs and trees (usually natives) to replace areas of lawn or bare ground. Rainwater collected from the roof, driveway or lawn drains to this low spot and is filtered naturally. The water nourishes the garden which absorbs more water than a conventional lawn and prevents runoff. Rain gardens are easy to maintain and enhance the beauty of a yard. They have been used all over the country to reduce stormwater runoff pollution and increase urban biodiversity.

Not only are rain gardens beautiful, fun, easy and beneficial, but now, you can get financial assistance for planting one this year. Through the Rain Garden Grant program, the City of Tallahassee's TAPP program offers financial assistance to property owners within the City limits to help with the placement of rain gardens on their property. Grants of up to $175 help cover the cost of plants, mulch and compost used to establish the rain garden.

Rain gardens are one of the City's many sustainability-focused efforts. For more information about TAPP programs, for a Rain Garden Grant application or to receive copies of TAPP brochures, please visit TAPPwater.org.