Rain garden: how to make one at home and what are the benefits against floods traduzido por: OPENROUTER

Rain gardens emerge as an alternative to deal with a problem that is increasingly common in cities: the excess of rainwater on impermeable surfaces. When sidewalks, streets and paved yards prevent natural infiltration, water flows quickly into storm drains, increasing the risk of flooding and overloading urban drainage systems.

In this context, landscaping starts to play a role that goes beyond aesthetics. Rain gardens use vegetation and specific techniques to capture part of this volume, allowing water to gradually infiltrate the soil before flowing into the public network.

How do rain gardens work?

Unlike a conventional flower bed, the rain garden is designed in a small depression in the terrain. This area temporarily receives water from roofs, sidewalks or other impermeable surfaces, functioning as a kind of natural reservoir.

Jardim de chuva (Divulgação/Divulgação)

After being stored for a short period, water slowly infiltrates the soil through drainage layers composed of earth, sand, gravel and organic matter. The system reduces the speed of surface runoff and helps recharge the water table.

Benefits beyond drainage

Although its main function is related to stormwater management, rain gardens offer several environmental benefits. The vegetation helps to retain sediments and part of the pollutants carried by the water before they reach rivers and streams.

In addition, these areas increase the permeability of the terrain, favor urban biodiversity and help to soften the heat islands by expanding the presence of green areas in cities.

How to adapt the rain garden to your home

Although they are widely used in parks, squares and urban developments, rain gardens can also be incorporated into residential projects. Yards, side corridors and areas close to gutters are some of the places that can receive this type of solution, as long as there is space for water infiltration.

Jardim de chuva (Maureen Flynn-Burhoe/Wikimedia Commons/Divulgação)

Before implementation, it is important to evaluate factors such as terrain slope, soil type, volume of captured water and distance from the building foundations. In larger or more complex projects, the guidance of a landscaper or engineer is recommended.

Most suitable species for rain gardens

The choice of species is essential for the proper functioning of the garden. The ideal is to use plants adapted to both periods of moist soil and drier intervals, since the water remains accumulated only temporarily after the rains.

Ornamental grasses, lilies, rushes, heliconias, alpinias and various native species usually perform well, depending on climatic characteristics and the landscape project. Prioritizing regional vegetation also favors adaptation and reduces maintenance needs.

Landscaping that works together with nature

Rain gardens represent a change in the way of thinking about outdoor spaces. Instead of directing all the water quickly to storm drains, they use natural processes to slow down runoff and return part of this resource to the soil.

Jardim de chuva (Divulgação)

This approach integrates landscaping, sustainability and green infrastructure into a single solution. In addition to visually enriching the projects, it demonstrates how the landscape design can actively collaborate to make cities more resilient to climate change and extreme rain events.

CASACOR Publisher is an exclusive content creation agent, developed by the CASACOR Technology team based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Milena Garcia.

traduzido por: OPENROUTER