What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is a shallow landscaped depression designed to capture rainwater from a roof, driveway, or street. The rainwater runoff is absorbed into the soil which is planted with flood and drought-resistant plants.
What are the benefits of rain gardens?
Rain gardens bring many benefits, both to your yard and the environment!
- Reduce flooding: Rain gardens help reduce localized flooding during rainy days, and they direct rainwater runoff into your garden, away from your building’s foundation.
- Clean water: As captured rainwater infiltrates through the soil and plant roots, pollutants such as chemicals, fertilizer, and oils get filtered out.
- Create natural habitat: The native, drought tolerant plants that grow in the rain garden provide excellent habitat for local pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
- Beautify your yard and save money: Rain gardens are beautiful landscape features that cost less to maintain than water-guzzling lawns.
Get a rebate for installing a rain garden!
To make the deal even sweeter, you may be eligible for a Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) Lawn Be Gone! Rebate. Customers of the following participating agencies can get a rebate for removing their lawn and an additional $300 rebate for installing a rain garden!
- Brisbane/Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District
- Mid-Peninsula Water District
- Millbrae
- North Coast County Water District
- Redwood City
- Menlo Park
- San Bruno
See the Rain Garden Rebate Terms and Conditions for more information.
Rain garden inspiration
Need some more inspiration before deciding if a lawn conversion or rain garden is right for you? Here are some resources you can use to get inspiration for your rain garden project.
- Rain Gardens 101 video series that discusses design, construction, and maintenance
- A San Mateo Resident’s Water Wise Garden Story
- 7 Inspiring Lawn-Free Yards
- UC Davis 100 Plants Recommended for California Gardens
- Rain Garden Factsheet
View before and after rain garden designs below. Click and slide the tab tab in the middle of each image to see what a difference a rain garden can make!
Share your rain garden photos with us!
If you have a rain garden, let us know. Share your story and pictures with us by filling out the form below. We’d love to feature your project and share it with San Mateo County residents!
