It’s hard to think about spring when the snow is continuing to pile on the Milwaukee metro area like some sort of never-ending plague. It’s awfully cold out there.
But the truth is, spring is just a few months away. And as we mentioned in a previous post, this is exactly the right time to plan ahead for your spring gardening and landscaping.
And if you’re looking for ways to help the environment and beautify your yard, it’s hard to go wrong with a rain garden.
A rain garden is a small, shallow depression in your yard that is filled with water-resistant native plants. You would position it so that it will catch storm water run-off from your gutters. This prevents storm water pollution.
And, by choosing native plants, you’ll also be restoring some of the habitats that Wisconsin birds, bees, and butterflies depend on. This doesn’t just help these vital creatures survive and thrive. It also gives you a vibrant, beautiful, living landscape to enjoy.
The Wisconsin DNR offers a full manual for building a rain garden right here. As you’ll see, a well-planned rain garden is a beautiful addition to any yard.
You can also watch the video below.
Of course, if you can, it’s a good idea to take a workshop or class before you begin. Rain gardens can be a bit touchy, and getting some hands-on advice can help you prevent major problems later. Fortunately you will see quite a few of those classes offered throughout the Milwaukee metro area on a regular basis.
But if you can’t take a class, give it a try anyway. The manual’s pretty comprehensive, and if you plan and pre-order your plants right now you should have plenty of success.
We can’t help you with your rain garden. However, if you’d like to add a pergola or gazebo to your yard at the same time so that you can enjoy all of the features of your landscape, give us a call. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free estimate, and we’ll come out to most of Milwaukee’s outlying areas such as Fox Point or Mequon. We look forward to meeting you!
