Rain Garden Resources
Rain gardens are planted in a shallow depression that collect the rain that falls on roofs, driveways, or landscapes and allow the water to soak into the ground.
Protecting our Water Resources
Colorado communities are facing unprecedented pressure on dwindling water resources due to factors such as climate change (increased drought conditions) and dramatic rises in population. These factors are resulting in increased water demand for outdoor irrigation.
Implementing more efficient ways to irrigate landscapes while preserving the beauty of vegetated spaces is becoming more important than ever in our state.
Why Plant Rain Gardens?
Rain gardens are a beautiful alternative to high-water use turf grass that also benefits pollinators, water quality, and wildlife.
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/01/Rain-garden-image_Kristy-Bruce.jpg)
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Resources to Build Your Own Rain Garden
All of the resources below are FREE to use and download and include the information you need to install your own rain garden.
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/01/IMG_3194-768x576.jpg)
Planting Layouts and Guides
Click below to view the plant-by-number rain garden planting layouts for full sun, part shade, and full shade developed by CSU horticulture experts, Dr. Jennifer Bousselot and Thomas Hickey. These guides include the layout, plant care guide, and plant substitution list.
![IMG_20220930_082206 IMG_20220930_082206](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/elementor/thumbs/IMG_20220930_082206-qit0dmfoiyus5jt865mt3c3hvv1u0u6c0hoqzi937k.jpg)
Rain Garden Installation Guide
Step-by-Step Guide describing how to install a rain garden, materials needed, and maintenance for successful establishment.
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/01/Teaching_riley-1024x769.jpg)
Rain Garden Installation Training (Recording)
In this three hour training you will receive an in-depth explanation of the steps needed to install rain gardens including examples of successful installations, supplies, materials, and how to maintain rain gardens.
Rain Garden Installation Examples
Residential Rain Garden Pilot Project 2022 -2023
The Project team created the resources and training materials needed to enable the expansion of rain garden installations across Colorado. Additionally, a total of 19 residential rain gardens were installed in Fort Collins, Wellington, Greeley, Windsor, Loveland, Longmont, Commerce City, Centennial, and Denver to showcase the benefits of including rain gardens in residential yards and offering a beautiful alternative to high-water use turf grass that also benefits pollinators, water quality, and wildlife.
Project Impact
50
Community Members Trained
19
Demonstration Rain Gardens Planted
1200sqft
Total square feet of rain gardens installed
617
Native and adapted plants planted
26
Rain Barrels installed
162,029
Gallons of Rainwater harvested
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/02/IMG_20220916_131030-1024x769.jpg)
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![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/02/IMG_20220930_153347-1024x769.jpg)
Thank you to our project sponsors, partners, and collaborators!
The Residential Rain Garden Pilot Project would not have been possible without the tremendous support from our funding partners including the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Water Center, Northern Water, City of Greeley, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, Mile High Flood District, and Groundwork Denver. This highly collaborative project demonstrated the ability to amplify community- centered sustainability initiatives through partnerships.
This project included collaboration across Colorado State University (CSU) disciplines. Dr. Jennifer Bousselot (Horticulture and Landscape Architecture) and graduate student Thomas Hickey (Horticulture and Landscape Architecture) designed the planting layouts. Additionally, Deryn Davidson, Interim Extension Director Jefferson County, CSU Extension consulted and collaborated on this project. CSU Extension also provided funding for project staff, Riley Lynch and Mia Campbell.
Project Sponsors
![Colorado Water Conservation Board logo](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/01/co-h20-conservation-300x73.png)
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/02/CSU-Water-Ctr-Logo-H-Full-357-300x78.png)
Demonstration Rain Garden Installations
Due to the funding provided by our project partners, it was FREE for homeowners to participate in the Rain Garden Pilot Program. Each homeowner received a site evaluation, native plants, irrigation supplies, downspout extenders, mulch, rain garden installation, and optional rain barrels and rain barrel installation all free of charge.
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2023/08/NJ9TPiLI_400x400-150x150.jpg)
![City of Greeley logo](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/01/greeley-150x150.jpg)
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2023/08/103706_city-of-fort-collins.jpg)
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Northern Water
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2023/08/NJ9TPiLI_400x400.jpg)
6
Demonstration Rain Gardens Planted
400sqft
Total square feet of rain gardens installed
173
Native and adapted plants planted
10
Rain Barrels installed
48,049
Total Gallons of Rainwater harvested
City of Greeley
![City of Greeley logo](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2024/01/greeley.jpg)
5
Demonstration Rain Gardens Planted
300sqft
Total square feet of rain gardens installed
175
Native and adapted plants planted
7
Rain Barrels installed
33,813
Total Gallons of Rainwater harvested
City of Fort Collins
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2023/08/103706_city-of-fort-collins.jpg)
4
Demonstration Rain Gardens Planted
250sqft
Total square feet of rain gardens installed
118
Native and adapted plants planted
7
Rain Barrels installed
48,060
Total Gallons of Rainwater harvested
Groundwork Denver
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2023/08/Screenshot-2023-08-04-111742.png)
2
Demonstration Rain Gardens Planted
100sqft
Total square feet of rain gardens installed
66
Native and adapted plants planted
0
Rain Barrels installed
11,729
Total Gallons of Rainwater harvested
Mile High Flood District
![](https://watercenter.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2023/08/download-1.png)