Raingardens with Lexi Young

Question: What do thunderstorms, pollinators and grant money all have in common?

Answer: Rain Gardens

When heavy rains pour down in our city rain gardens act as many little sponges, soaking up the water and holding it out of our storm drains, and even our streets and basements. These same rain gardens provide nourishment and habitat for pollinators and small birds. And they are so valuable to the health and well-being of our community that the City of Des Moines is helping to cover the cost of installing them on your property with grants to match costs up to $2k.

A rain garden is a functional landscape, a garden designed to trap run-off from heavy rains, from downspouts or sump pumps, and to hold it for a short while, giving it time to soak into the ground instead of being washed through the gutters and down the city drains. These gardens work by making use of the deep-rooted native perennial plants that also play host to our native pollinators and offer beautiful flowers and foliage from spring until frost. Adding a rain garden to your landscape is a beautiful way to add to the health of our city.

Lexi Young is a co-owner of Young Gardens, a Des Moines landscaping company with a mission to bring ecologically diverse and climate resilient gardens to central Iowa. She is the garden and landscape designer for the company and is a passionate gardener herself. Lexi specializes in accessible gardens, believing everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of a garden.