By directing rainwater and gutter overflow into a rain garden filled with resilient, vibrant native plants, you can nurture the soil in your yard and preserve the environment. If you love the outdoors and gardening, this is a project that will get you out of the house to do some good for your garden.
Required materials
- Level
- Spade
- Wheelbarrow
- 1-1/2-inches of river rock
- decorative boulders and rocks
- Landscape cloth
- native grasses and plants
- PVC hose
A home can be hindranced by excess water
This process is for you if you fret about a wet or damp basement, or muddy puddles in your yard following a significant downpour. I would like to present you with a new drainage-improving tool called a rain garden. In essence, a rain garden is a plant pond, or a garden bed that has been planted with unique deep-rooted plants. These plants aid in the water’s quick assimilation into the soil and subsequent drainage from your home. Through the use of a swale (a stone channel) or plastic pipe, you guide the rainfall from the downspouts to the garden. Like rainwater tanks yet considerably more aesthetically pleasing, it collects the water and allows it to quickly drain into the soil.
Step 1: Build a berm in a low area of the yard which will serve as the rain garden’s foundation, and then construct swales to collect runoff from higher ground and the gutters. The system of extensive plant roots then allows the water to be absorbed into the soil. Use a variety of plants that have been adapted to your region and various water depths.
Step 2: Using a level and a long, straight board, determine the slope of your yard. To allow water to flow into your rain garden, you must have a slope of at least 1 inch in every 4-1/2 feet (2 percent). If you don’t already have this slope, you’ll need to invest significantly in landscaping in order to build the slope and enhance drainage
Step 3: Your rain garden should be placed at least 10 feet away from your house. If you don’t do this, water may soak the ground next to the foundation or even back up against it. If water is already accumulating close to your home, direct it to the garden using an underground PVC pipe
Step 4: Depending on how quickly the soil in your yard absorbs the water, decide on the size and depth of the rain garden. Most of the garden should be filled by an average rainfall, which should drain away in 24 hours. Digging a tiny test hole in the garden area, filling it with water, and watching how quickly it drains will give you the answer the quickest. Next, estimate the amount of runoff that will flow into the gutters.
Step 5: Although soil types and growing zones vary greatly across the nation, plant choices for this kind of garden are often the same. Good rain garden species include asters, daylilies, iris, sedum, coneflowers, artemisia, and sedge. Consult other gardening gurus or the local university extension to learn about additional possibilities in your area.
