Ep. 260 Managing Stormwater with Rain Gardens | #GoodGrowing
Rain gardens are one of the most effective tools homeowners can use to manage stormwater, reduce runoff, and add beauty to the landscape. In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris, Emily, and Ken explore how rain gardens work, why they matter, and how they can help keep excess water out of storm sewers and local waterways.
Plus, hear about upcoming rain garden educational programs and community installation projects happening across Illinois Extension.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k3_SuHDWQ18
Skip to what you want to know:
02:17 Topic of the day: Rain gardens. Why are they important?
06:02 Describing the urban stormwater system
10:05 Other stormwater management tools besides rain gardens
13:53 What is a rain garden? The difference between detention and retention
15:29 Where should and shouldn't rain gardens be in a home landscape?
16:13 Defining a rain garden: it's a depression in the ground! Yay, we said what it was finally!
25:17 Sizing your rain garden
36:42 Rain Garden installation tips
51:34 Planting design for a rain garden
58:34 Illinois Groundwork link
1:01:48 Rain garden maintenance
1:02:35 Mosquitoes and rain gardens
1:04:54 Thank yous and coming up next week!
Register for our Rainscaping Classes https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2026-09-21-rainscaping
Illinois Ground Work Plant Finder Tool https://illinoisgroundwork.org/resources/plant-finder/
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us
Plus, hear about upcoming rain garden educational programs and community installation projects happening across Illinois Extension.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k3_SuHDWQ18
Skip to what you want to know:
02:17 Topic of the day: Rain gardens. Why are they important?
06:02 Describing the urban stormwater system
10:05 Other stormwater management tools besides rain gardens
13:53 What is a rain garden? The difference between detention and retention
15:29 Where should and shouldn't rain gardens be in a home landscape?
16:13 Defining a rain garden: it's a depression in the ground! Yay, we said what it was finally!
25:17 Sizing your rain garden
36:42 Rain Garden installation tips
51:34 Planting design for a rain garden
58:34 Illinois Groundwork link
1:01:48 Rain garden maintenance
1:02:35 Mosquitoes and rain gardens
1:04:54 Thank yous and coming up next week!
Register for our Rainscaping Classes https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2026-09-21-rainscaping
Illinois Ground Work Plant Finder Tool https://illinoisgroundwork.org/resources/plant-finder/
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us
Creators and Guests
Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties
Host
Emily Swihart
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark Counties
Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
