Why Rain Gardens Are Michigan's Best-Kept Secret

If you have standing water in your yard after heavy rains, downspouts that dump water into problem areas, or a driveway that sends runoff into the street, a rain garden might be the most transformative addition you can make to your landscape.

What Is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a shallow, planted depression designed to capture and absorb stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, and sidewalks. It's typically filled with deep-rooted native plants that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions.

Why They Matter in Michigan

Southwest Michigan receives approximately 36 inches of precipitation annually. On a typical residential property, a significant portion of that rainfall hits impervious surfaces and runs off — carrying pollutants into storm drains, streams, and eventually our Great Lakes.

A properly sized rain garden can capture and filter 90% of a typical rainstorm's runoff. That's water that recharges groundwater instead of overwhelming sewers and polluting waterways.

The Beauty Factor

Here's what most people don't realize: rain gardens are absolutely gorgeous. Planted with native species like blue flag iris, cardinal flower, Joe Pye weed, swamp milkweed, and native sedges, they provide months of color, texture, and wildlife activity.

Many of our most dramatic landscape transformations have centered on rain gardens that solved a practical problem while becoming the most beautiful feature on the property.

How We Design Rain Gardens

Every rain garden we design begins with a thorough assessment of your property's hydrology — where water comes from, where it flows, and where it pools. We then determine the optimal location, size, and depth based on your soil type and the volume of water we need to manage.

Plant selection is critical. We choose species based on the garden's moisture zones — wetter in the center, drier at the edges — to create a layered, naturalistic planting that thrives in Michigan's variable conditions.

Get Started

Interested in a rain garden for your property? Contact us for a consultation. We'll assess your site and design a rain garden that solves your water problems beautifully.