by Alden Smith
One of the most environmentally friendly projects today is the rain garden. It can help prevent excessive runoff of pollutants and it is aesthetically pleasing. Rain gardens are easy to build and make use of native plants and wildflowers. They filter out pollutants from rooftops and parking lots. A rain garden can be put any where there is a depression in the ground, or can be built in a man made depression in an area of high runoff. It can be any size - from a few plants to an entire ditch running parallel to the road in urban areas. Here, we will discuss rain gardens, giving you a bit of history, examples and tips for building an efficient rain garden.
What is a Rain Garden?
A rain garden is an area of ground planted with native grasses and wildflowers that soak up runoff from buildings and rooftops. By reducing runoff, it filters pollutants, pesticides and filters the water rather than letting it run directly down a storm drain. Compared to a regular lawn, a rain garden absorbs 30% more water.
What are the Benefits of a Rain Garden?
A rain garden:
* Increases the amount of water absorbed into the ground, thus refreshing water tables and aquifers.
* Protects urban areas from flooding and drainage issues.
* Helps to prevent pollutants from entering lakes and streams.
* Enhances the yard and neighborhood.
* Provides habitat for birds and small animals, and attracts butterflies and dragonflies.
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
* Do rain gardens hold water?
No. They are designed to absorb water in a few hours after a heavy rainfall. They are dry the rest of the time.
* Do they attract mosquitoes?
Rain gardens do not attract mosquitoes because there is no standing water for any long amount of time. Mosquitoes need 7 to 12 days to lay and hatch eggs.
* Are they expensive?
Like any project, they can be as expensive as you would like to make them. If you hire someone to dig the garden, pay a landscaper to plant vegetation, and buy all the vegetation and flowers, then they may be a bit costly. If, however, you do the work yourself, get plants from areas of your yard or from neighbors and enlist community help, they are relatively inexpensive.
* Are they hard to maintain?
In the first few years, they will require some weeding and watering. After mature, they may require thinning to ensure health.
Siting and Sizing the Rain Garden
A home rain garden can go in two locations. One location catches runoff from the roof, and the other is designed to catch runoff from both the roof and lawn. Consider these points when trying to decide:
-It needs to be a minimum of 10 feet from the house to avoid leakage into the basement.
-The rain garden should never be placed over an existing septic system.
-Don't be tempted to put a rain garden in an area that already drains slowly. The purpose of the rain garden is to encourage filtration. The low areas of your yard are areas that do not drain well.
-Build the garden in a high sun area, avoiding the shade of trees.
-Build the rain garden in the flattest part of the yard. The rain garden must be perfectly level to filtrate properly.
How Big Should the Garden Be?
A typical rain garden is 100 to 300 square feet. Size depends on these factors:
-How deep the garden will be.
-What type of soil is used.
-How much roof and garden will be drained to the garden.
Leveling the soil provides maximum filtration and drains quickest. Remember, the wider the rain garden is, the deeper the soil will need to be when placed on a slope. If the width is over 10-15 feet, then more topsoil will need to be brought in to make the garden level, adding expense to the project. Always ensure that the longest part of the garden is perpendicular to the house. This gives maximum coverage for catching runoff from the roof.
Rain gardens are not only functional, but pleasing to the eye as well. When building one, keep in mind that you will want to view the garden from the home. Rain gardens are very efficient in filtrating pollutants and pesticides from the runoff. Be earth friendly - build a rain garden today!
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