Simple Rainscaping Ideas:

1. Plant a Keystone Tree: Enhances soil stability, improves water absorption, supports local ecosystems, reduces heat, and increases property values. Some examples of keystone trees in Georgia include oak trees, maple tree, hickory trees, pine trees, and sweetgum trees. 
2. Rain Barrels: Containers that collect and store rainwater from downspouts for later use in watering gardens and lawns.
3. Permeable Pavers: Paving material that allow water to seep through the surface and into the ground, reducing runoff and promoting groundwater recharge.
4. Vegetative Buffers: Strips of plants along streambanks and drainage areas that help filter runoff, stabilize soil, and provide wildlife habitat.
5. Downspout Redirects: Simple devices that direct water from gutters away from foundations and into permeable areas like lawns or gardens,
6. Undyed Mulch: Use undyed mulch in flower beds to help retain soil moisture, reduce runoff, and improve soil health. Mulch, plantings, and leaves under trees provide soft landings that slow down, absorb, and filter stormwater. 
7. Minimize Fertilizer and Pesticide Use: Reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides helps prevent harmful chemicals from washing into waterways during rain events. Opt for organic or slow-release fertilizers and explore integrated pest management practices to maintain a healthy landscape without excessive chemical use.
8. Use a Mulching Blade for Grass Cutting: Using a mulching blade on your lawn mower chops grass clippings into fine pieces, allowing them to decompose quickly and return nutrients to the soil. This practice reduces the need for additional fertilizers and helps retain moisture in the soil, promoting healthier grass growth and reducing runoff.

Advanced Rainscaping Ideas:

1. Rain Gardens: Shallow, landscaped depressions that capture and absorb rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and lawns. They can be planted with a variety of grasses, flowers, and shrubs.
2. Bioswales: Vegetated, shallow, and gently sloped channels designed to manage and treat stormwater runoff by slowing, filtering, and absorbing water.
3. Infiltration Trenches: Trenches filled with gravel or stone that collect and infiltrate stormwater runoff, allowing it to seep into the ground slowly.
4. Constructed Wetlands: Engineered systems designed to mimic the functions of natural wetlands, treating stormwater through physical, chemical, and biological processes
5. Cisterns: Larger storage tanks that collect and store substantial amounts of rainwater, which can be used for irrigation or even indoor non-potable uses.
6. Dry Wells: Underground structures that collect and temporarily store stormwater runoff, allowing it to infiltrate into the surrounding soil gradually.

For more information, see the Additional Resources.