This Downspout Garden Plan Uses Lots of Rain to Your Advantage
Downspouts have a knack for drenching their surroundings whenever it rains. This can make the soil too soggy for many types of plants, but you can still enjoy plenty of colorful perennials that will thrive in the extra moisture. This downspout garden plan relies on tall joe-pye weed to grab attention away from the downspout itself. Then pink turtlehead, dwarf sweetflag, and blue lobelia camouflage the area around the opening to help it blend into the landscape.
Plants for Creating the Downspout Garden Plan
The mix of plant sizes and the soft pinks and blues of the flowers of the following perennials work together to create a dynamic design with just a few plants. All of these plants appreciate plenty of moisture, and can tolerate occasionally soggy soil.
- 1 Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum): Zones 4-8
- 2 Pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips'): Zones 3-7
- 5 Dwarf sweetflag (Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus'): Zones 5-8
- 3 Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica): Zones 5-9
This garden will do best on the east, west, or north side of a building; a southern exposure may be too hot or dry out too quickly. If you aren't able to find the exact variety of turtlehead or sweetflag used in this design, feel free to substitute with others that have similar colors, shapes, and sizes.
Because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting.
Get the Free Downspout Garden Plan
The garden plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and gardening techniques for installing the garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a downspout garden design?
A downspout garden is a small garden located near the discharge of a downspout. They're typically filled with native plants or grasses that can tolerate moist conditions.
- What are the benefits of downspout gardens?
Downspout gardens are a wonderful way to decorate your yard while reducing runoff from your property. They also save water and provide a habitat for pollinators.
- What are the cons of downspout gardens?
If not properly maintained, a garden around a downspout can impede the flow of water away from buildings, which could cause unwanted moisture issues or flooding.