How deep does a rain garden need to be?
This will allow the rain garden to drain within a proper time frame. This depth will provide a good water regime for the plants you'll be using. Although there are plants that can withstand deep water (in excess of 8 inches), a six inch depth is well in the range that water tolerant plants can withstand.
How do you prepare a rain garden for winter?
Check the rain garden for areas of exposed soil and re-mulch as needed. Mulch helps to absorb water and protect the soil underneath. Maintain a healthy cover of plants, and replace any dead plants to fill in holes. Maintain a cover of decorative rock around the inlet and overflow area to protect the soil.
How often should I water my rain garden plants?
After two or three years the native plants in your rain garden will need little or no watering. However, watering may be necessary during prolonged dry periods even if plants are established. Water deeply, but infrequently, so that the top 15 to 30 centimetres of the root zone is moist.
What is a rain garden zone?
The upper or transition zone between the rain garden and the non-garden area. This area will receive water infrequently; during very heavy rain events and will drain the fastest. It will be the most similar to typical garden areas, depending on the individual's watering practices. Almost any typical garden plant will work in this zone.
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How do I prepare my soil for a rain garden?
Prepare the Soil Once you've identified the new garden's location, remove the sod and dig a shallow depression approximately 6" deep. Slope the sides gradually from the outside edge to the deepest area. Use the soil that you remove to build up a slightly raised area on the lowest side of the garden.
Where is the best place to put a rain garden?
The rain garden should be located in a place that can collect as much impervious area (driveway, roof, sidewalks) runoff as possible. The best areas are generally where water naturally drains but doesn't hold water. It should also be located at least 5'-15' away from your home.
What plants should I put in my rain garden?
More Rain Garden Plants for Sun and Partial Shade Columbines (Aquilegia canadensis), zones 3 to 9. Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum), zones 2 to 9. New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), zones 4 to 8. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ), zones 4 to 9.
What soil is best for a rain garden?
A good mix for a rain garden is 30% sand, 30–40% loamy topsoil and 30% organic material from yard waste compost. This mixture must be tilled into the existing soil to ensure proper drainage conditions.
How deep does a rain garden need to be?
between four and eight inches deepA typical rain garden is between four and eight inches deep. A rain garden more than eight inches deep might pond water too long, look like a hole in the ground, and present a tripping hazard for somebody stepping into it.
How effective are rain gardens?
Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff. Compared to a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the ground.
What plants soak up the most water?
The Best Water-Absorbing Plants and FlowersDaylily.Purple Coneflower.Bee balm.Globeflower.Golden club.Japanese iris.Primrose.
Can You plant hydrangeas in a rain garden?
(Oak-leaf Hydrangea) Oak-leaf hydrangeas are easily grown in moist soil and do best in full sun to partial shade. The plant is a great option for those looking to plant a bigger shrub/small tree in their rain garden but don't want to invest in a taller, more costly tree.
What flowers thrive in rain?
Plant a Rain GardenCardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)Swamp mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium)Sedges (Carex)Bluestar (Amsonia)Turtlehead (Chelone)
Should I mulch my rain garden?
To maintain your rain garden, remove weeds on a regular basis as the landscape plants grow, and replenish mulch as needed. As the plants in the rain garden mature, there will be less need for mulch and weeding. Rain gardens should be relatively low maintenance if the correct plants are chosen.
How do you build a simple rain garden?
Create the rain garden by building a berm in a low spot in the yard, then build swales to channel runoff from the gutters and higher parts of the yard. The water is then absorbed into the soil through the network of deep plant roots. Use a mix of plants adapted to your area and to the different water depths.
How do you make a rain garden step by step?
How to Build a Rain Garden in 10 Steps#1: Location, Location, Location. ... #2: Calculate and mark the size of the rain garden. ... #3: Dig the depression and grade the area. ... #4: Form a berm on the downhill side. ... #5: Aerate the bottom of the bowl. ... #6: Double-check the infiltration rate. ... #7: Add compost soil for planting.More items...•
What makes a good rain garden?
The best rain garden plants are those that can tolerate wet sites. Many native plants from boggy habitats work well. Try to use native grasses, sedges, and rushes in at least one-third to one-half of the rain garden. These plants have very deep root systems that help water seep down into the soil.
What is the difference between a rain garden and bioretention?
Description. A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden designed to capture and absorb stormwater. Bioretention areas (also referred to as bioretention cells or rain gardens) use soil, plants and microbes to treat stormwater before it is infiltrated or discharged.
What is the difference between a bioswale and a rain garden?
Although they sound similar, bioswales are designed to slow down rainwater through a curving or linear path, while rain gardens are designed to capture, store, and infiltrate rainwater in a bowl shape.
What can I plant around a rain barrel?
Stretch your Water Supply with Beautiful Flowers – Robert's Plant List for RainwaterBOTANICAL NAMECOMMON NAMEUSDA ZONESEriogonum spp.Buckwheat6-10Eriogonum grande rubescensRed Buckwheat8-9Euphorbia spp.Euphorbia7-10Gaillardia x grandifloraArizona Sun Blanket5-923 more rows
Where are rain gardens native to?
Most of the plants listed below are native specifically to the Mid-Atlantic region, although there are some that are native more to the mid-western region of the United States.
What is the middle zone of a raingarden?
Zone 2-Mesic (middle) Zone. This area will hold water but will drain much sooner than Zone 1. This zone is likely to hold several inches of water during and immediately after a rain event, depending on construction of the raingarden.
What zone of the garden holds the most water?
Zone 1-Wet Zone. This area will be the deepest and hold the most water for the most amount of time. The plants listed below are tolerant of inundated (flooded) conditions upwards of six inches, meaning that they can tolerate standing water for a period of time. The rain garden should be designed so that water infiltrates within 24 hours.
What is the transition zone between a rain garden and a non-garden area?
This area will receive water infrequently; during very heavy rain events and will drain the fastest. It will be the most similar to typical garden areas, depending on the individual's watering practices. Almost any typical garden plant will work in this zone. Just be sure to use native plants to enhance wildlife habitat.
Can birch trees survive wet conditions?
There are a good number of larger trees that will easily withstand wet conditions (such as river birch, sweet gum, and black gum). However, this list was developed with the average size residential rain garden in mind, which would typically be using smaller scale plant material.
Can perennials grow in a rain garden?
There are many native plants that are typically found in more shaded environments in soil with a high amount of organic matter. Such plants would not be suitable for a rain garden unless the exposure and soil conditions can match the needs of those plants.
How deep should a rain garden be?
Plan your rain garden so that its deepest part is about six inches. This will allow the rain garden to drain within a proper time frame.
How long does it take for a rain garden to drain?
You may need to add compost to lighten the soil if you have heavy soil. Ideally, the water from your rain garden should drain within 12 hours or a within 24 hours at the most. This length of time will ensure that mosquitoes will not breed in your rain garden.
What is the lowest zone of a rain garden?
The rain garden can be designed in a three zone approach: the lowest zone is the area that will hold water the most often. The middle zone will have water (up to a few inches) but will drain more quickly. The upper zone is the transition zone between your rain garden and your non-garden area. This area will only receive water infrequently when there are very heavy rains and this area will dry out first. Remember that the rain garden will dry out between rain events and the plants you use must be able to withstand varying conditions.
How deep should a hole be when it rains?
Rather, you should have areas of varying depth, ranging from ground surface level (0 inches) up to 6 inches below the ground. This way, when it rains the water will flow into the various "holes" first and will slowly fill up the other areas.
How deep can a plant stand in water?
Although there are plants that can withstand deep water (in excess of 8 inches), a six inch depth is well in the range that water tolerant plants can withstand. With this depth you won't need to worry about drowning your plants or about the water standing for too long.
Where are rain gardens located?
Rain gardens can be located near downspouts, next to the driveway or sidewalks, or out in the yard. You can allow the rain to naturally collect in the rain garden or you can direct storm ...
Can mosquitoes breed in rain gardens?
This length of time will ensure that mosquitoes will not breed in your rain garden. When you are done planting you can add a layer of hardwood (resists rotting better than pine bark) mulch if you want. The mulch may shift and move around during rain events.
What to plant in a rain garden in the winter?
Choose a variety of plants, including shrubs, flowers and grasses, to create variety in colour, height and texture. Consider the year-round look of your rain garden – clumping grasses will hold their shape throughout the winter, and many types of shrubs develop striking red branches in the colder months.
What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is a landscaped feature that replaces an area of your lawn in order to collect the stormwater (rain and melted snow) that runs off your grass, roof and driveway. This shallow depression has loose, deep soil that absorbs and naturally filters the runoff, preventing it from entering the storm drain system and, eventually, our waterways.
Why is mulch important in a garden?
Mulch helps to keep out weeds, resists drought and gives the garden a tidy appearance. Mulch is especially important for rain gardens as it also helps to absorb and filter the rain water. Your layer of mulch should not be more than 10 centimetres deep.
Why do you need to mulch in a rain garden?
Check the rain garden for areas of exposed soil and re-mulch as needed. Mulch helps to absorb water and protect the soil underneath.
What is the inlet area in a rain garden?
You need to create the inlet (area for water to enter the rain garden) and the overflow (area for water to exit the rain garden in case of overfilling).
How far away should a rain garden be from a septic system?
Rain gardens should never be placed within 4 metres of a septic bed, and if uphill of a septic system, they should be at least 15 metres away. Rain gardens placed near any type of steep slope (more than 15%) have the potential to cause land slides because of the excess water being absorbed into the soil.
How do rain gardens help the environment?
Just to name a few! These pollutants wash into ditches and down storm drains, and end up in local waterways. Rain gardens capture and filter stormwater, helping to reduce runoff. While an individual garden may seem like a small thing, collectively they can produce substantial benefits to the community. -Text Credit: Christopher Obropta, Ph.D, P.E., Extension Specialist, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Water Resources Program
What plants can be planted in a rain garden?
Including native grasses, sedges, and rushes into your rain garden is essential. The deep root systems act as a filtration method for contaminates while also allowing for efficient groundwater infiltration. As with every selection, you want to try to make the plant have multiple functions.
Where is the rain garden placed?
Rain Garden Placement: On the slope or in the base
What is the best grass for a rain garden?
As with every selection, you want to try to make the plant have multiple functions. Big Bluestem is an excellent choice because it does serve multiple purposes besides water absorption and filtration. It is an attractive grass while in bloom and during the fall and winter, but it also is a food source for birds and other wildlife while offering shelter for insects and butterfly and moth larvae.
What is the best plant to plant in the base of a garden?
New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) Barry Winiker/Getty Images. New York ironweed is an ideal plant to place in the base of your garden. It grows in a dense mounding shrub-like form and is tolerant to almost all growing conditions.
What are the three zones of a rain garden?
There are three planting zones to a rain garden: the edge, the slope, and the base. The following list will recommend where to plant each plant, but the general rule is to place plants tolerant of dry conditions on the highest locations or the edge. Plants that can handle conditions that are medium moisture with occasional dry conditions should go ...
Is ironweed a good plant for a garden?
New York ironweed is an ideal plant to place in the base of your garden. It grows in a dense mounding shrub-like form and is tolerant to almost all growing conditions.#N#Ironweed offers ecological benefits to pollinators and shelter to small wildlife if you allow it to grow shrubby, which can happen if it is not kept orderly.
What is the best place to put plants in a rain garden?
Plants installed along the slope should be able to thrive in conditions that are sometimes dry or wet. In the deepest section of the rain garden, known as the base , place plants that can handle wet soil for an extended time.
What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is, at its core, a garden that collects rainwater, holds it for a limited amount of time, and filters it before slowly releasing the water into the ground. It collects rainwater from impervious surfaces like roofs, pavements, driveways, patios, parking lots, or waterlogged yards, allowing the water to slowly seep back into the ground, ...
How Does a Rain Garden Work?
The principle of how rain gardens work is pretty simple. You have seen water run downhill before and have seen a puddle on a lawn slowly disappear. A rain garden creates a channel to an artificial depression or serves as an artificial depression, where water will be able to collect and enter the ground slowly.
Why are rain gardens important?
Installing rain gardens in our communities are essential for the health of our waterways. As our green spaces become overdeveloped, rain gardens will become vital. They play a huge role in guarding our waterways from nonpoint source pollutants contained in runoff water.
How to lay out a garden?
To design and lay out your garden, determine its depth and size, estimate the runoff amount, and use the soil percolation test mentioned above. Plant placement must allow for water uptake and optimum plant health. On the very edge of the garden, plants must be able to tolerate dry conditions.
How to design a garden?
To design and layout your garden, you will need to determine its depth and size, estimate the runoff amount, and use the soil percolation test mentioned above. Placing plants need to be done specifically to allow for water uptake and optimum plant health.
What is the purpose of a rain garden?
The primary purpose of a rain garden is to reduce runoff, so it should be placed in a location enabling the garden to collect water. Select only native plants (shrubs, perennials, and annuals) for your rain garden.
Should I plant my garden on a rainy day?
I prefer to plant on a rainy day if it is warm enough. Add to that the compaction of the soil because of your planting activities and you've invited some problems, perhaps. Soil that is compacted while soaked often cannot recover on its own. (Remember, oxygen is every bit as important as water for plants.
Is it bad to plant in soil wet from rain?
We had heavy rain last night and the soil is pretty soggy. But all week I've been planning to plant umpteen flats of annuals this weekend; plus half that number of small quart sized perennials.
