A raingarden soaks up stormwater from roofs, driveways, parking lots and lawns. It is a landscaped area planted with native plants to replace areas of lawn. The garden fills with a few inches of water and allows the water to slowly filter into the ground. It doesn't run off to storm drains.
A raingarden is not intended to be a wetland or a water garden with permanent water. Raingardens are designed to absorb water in about a day. The area does not become a mosquito breeding ground. Compared to a conventional lawn, a raingarden allows 30 percent more water to soak into the ground.
Attend a workshop
Several cities are hosting Landscaping for Clean Water classes and workshops on native gardens, raingardens, and native shoreline stabilization. Both in-person and virtual programming are available in the spring and early summer.
If you can't make a workshop, you can 
learn to start a raingarden on your own, but you won’t be eligible for grants.
Get help with the basics
You can learn how to create beautiful gardens to keep water clean by attending a Landscaping for Clean Water introduction class in the spring. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
At the class, you can take the initial step to:
- Beautiful and practical ways to reduce runoff pollutants from your yard that might be contributing to water quality issues
- How to improve pollinator habitat
- Preliminary ideas for designing a raingarden or native garden
- Tips to how to make your garden a unique and beautiful focal point to enjoy for many years
Get help with design
After attending the introductory class, you'll be ready to attend Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course lets you work with professionals who will walk through the steps of:
- Placement and garden shape
- Plant selection
- Where to purchase materials and estimated costs
- How to install your garden
You will walk away with a garden design ready for installation this summer.
Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course is held in late spring and summer with both in-person and virtual options. Introduction to Clean Water is a prerequisite to the design course.
Apply for a grant
Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, and local watershed management agencies offer grant money to help offset the cost of installation. Grant awardees will receive technical assistance during the installation of your new garden. You must attend both the Introduction to Clean Water and Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course to be eligible for grants.
Contact the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District at 651-480-7777 or lcw@co.dakota.mn.us with questions.