How to build a Rain Garden.
Rainwater from a downspout or driveway or runoff source is directed to the garden. There, the water soaks into the ground, instead of running into the street and straight into the nearest lake or river. A rain garden isn’t a pond. The rain soaks into the garden, usually in a matter of hours. The garden is dry most of the time.
Digging one is easy. Best management practice manuals advise about special soils and perforated pipes. Home gardens don’t have to cope with such enormous volumes of water. Unless your lot is quite unusual, your rain garden won’t need any engineering.
Here’s how to dig a home rain garden:
* Call the power company. They’ll come to your house for free and mark underground utilities.
* Choose a site for your garden at least 10’ from the foundation of your house.
* Remove the sod in an area 150 to 300 square feet. Mix in a little compost.
* Dig a depression 3” to 6” deep, mounding up a small berm around the edges.
* Plant your new garden with native plants.
* Add a dressing of wood chip mulch.
* Aim a downspout at it.
That is about it, any questions just email us. Thanks to Sue Ellington.
June 10, 2006 7:10 AM | Category: Cleanup