With a new app for your smart phone.

The UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) has developed a Rain Garden smart phone app that is now available for download from iTunes.

Native New England Asters and Black Eyed Susans at the Prairie Briarcliff Rain Garden in Ann Arbor.
Native New England Asters and Black Eyed Susans at the Prairie Briarcliff Rain Garden in Ann Arbor.

The app is targeted to homeowners and contractors, and leads the user through the proper siting, sizing, construction, planting and maintenance of a rain garden.  It includes nifty tools to help the user figure out the proper size of the garden, find out about local soil conditions, get a handle on the price of construction, and customize a plant list that will delight the eye while soaking up stormwater.   In addition, there are 6 short video segments explaining various aspects of rain garden care and feeding.

The app is only for iPhones at the moment, but CLEAR promises an Android version out soon.  Also, the imagery and plants are specific to CT, but they are starting work on a national version that will have extensive databases for each area of the country.  CLEAR is looking for help in expanding these tools if you are interested.

Go directly to the App’s info page on the iTunes store.

Go to Rain Garden App page on Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials website.