How to build a rain garden – Show Notes

Rain Garden Episode Links: ely.how/episode77

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Create a beautiful rain garden

What is a rain garden
- Depression area that catches runoff
- Infiltrates or soaks water into the ground
- Planted with plants that tolerate wet and dry conditions
What does a rain garden do
- For you
  - Self-irrigating garden
  - Self-maintaining garden
  - Attracts pollinators and birds
- For the environment
  - Reduces runoff
  - Reduces sewer issues
  - Reduces flooding
  - Restores ground water resources
- Why create a rain garden
  - Low maintenance garden
  - Attracts pollinators and birds
  - Personal positive impact
How to build a rain garden
- Determine size
  - Based on space
  - Amount of runoff
    - Roof
    - Yard
  - Free rainwater calculation tool
- Determine location
  - Gentle or no slope
  - Able to grade level
  - Downgrade of runoff area
  - Planned overflow area
- Determine soil infiltration capacity
  - Soil must be able to soak up rain over time
  - Heavy clay, hardpan, bedrock are problem sites
  - How to determine infiltration rate
    - Dig a hole 1-2ft deep
    - Fill with water
    - See how long it takes to soak in
    - If super slow / no infiltration, bad site
- Plan your garden
  - Rain garden design
    - Determine shape that is effective for holding water
    - Find appealing shape for property and desires
    - Make sure it’s an easy-to-maintain design
  - Plants
    - Select plants that are well-adapted to space
    - Tolerate occasional wet conditions
    - Tolerate drought
    - Native prairie/meadow plants to region usually well-adapted
    - Some with deep root systems, some with shallow fibrous root systems
    - Design for full coverage of plants to prevent weeds
- Install your garden
  - May need to rent equipment
  - Level out space
  - Place excavated soil on downgrade side to create a berm
  - For low infiltration soils
    - Excavate 24”
    - add rock/rubble to 12” depth
    - cover with landscape fabric
    - fill in to 6” below original grade
    - Use remaining soil to create berm on sides and downgrade
  - Planting
    - Plugs work
    - Seed mixes less attractive
  - Cover between plants with 4” mulch minimum
- Maintenance
Resources for your rain garden project
- Free rainwater calculator tool
- Five super cool ideas for your rain garden
- Free low maintenance plant list