The city’s RainScapes Rebates program offers single-family homeowners and nonprofits, including religious institutions, private schools and homeowners associations, up to $2,500 in rebates for landscaping that is designed to green your backyard and reduce pollution.
The program offers rebates for planting trees and conservation landscaping, installing rain barrels, or removing pavement and installing permeable pavers – actions that can reduce flooding, decrease pollution in local streams and support wildlife.
To learn more, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/rainscapes or contact rainscapes@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8870.
Looking to get even closer to nature? Landscaping is key to providing a hospitable place for wildlife. The National Wildlife Federation has certified Rockville as a Community Wildlife Habitat. Homeowners, businesses, schools, universities, places of worship, parks, civic and community organizations, and others can create wildlife-friendly landscapes and earn certification as well.
Certified wildlife habitats must provide the four basic elements that all wildlife needs: food, water, cover and places to raise young. These certified habitats help to create corridors for wildlife to thrive throughout the community. Like RainScapes Rebates, the program also encourages gardening in an environmentally friendly way, planting native species and replacing lawns with trees, shrubs and other plants.
To find resources and learn more about becoming certified, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/wildlifehabitat.