Does a rain garden form a pond?
No. The rainwater should soak into the ground and be utilized by the vegetation so that the garden is dry between rainfalls. (Note: Some rain gardens can be designed to include a permanent pond, but that type of rain garden is not addressed in this publication.) Does a rain garden provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes? No, the opposite. Mosquitoes need several days to lay and hatch eggs. Standing water in the garden should last for only a few hours after most storms. Mosquitoes are more likely to lay eggs in birdbaths, plant pots, and old tires than in a rain garden. Also, rain gardens attract dragonflies, and dragonflies eat mosquitoes. Do rain gardens require a lot of maintenance? No. Rain gardens can be maintained with little effort once the plants are established. As with any garden, some weeding and watering will be necessary in the first two years, and perhaps some thinning in later years as plants mature. Is a rain garden expensive? It doesn’t have to be. The cost is site spe
