A rain garden can add beauty and impact the environment |
Thanks to John Potter for his guest post this week!
You never know what the weather will bring in
the Midwest. A week ago we had a freak snowstorm with 9 inches of snow, this
week we were in the 60s. The frogs have been chirping for spring and some
plants are started to poke up out of the ground. Sadly, I know that winter isn’t
done with us yet!
Rain is a spring ritual for so many of us. Unfortunately,
rain doesn’t always favor the entire country with her grace. In so many places,
rain is becoming a scare resource and we all need to try to save on water in
little ways. If we all save on water we can collectively make an impact on the
water crises that faces our country.
I am blessed to
live in Michigan where we are surrounded by 4 massive Great Lakes. We have 10%
of the world’s fresh water in Lake Superior alone. To us, water sometimes
appears to be a limitless resource. We are spoiled while gardeners in
drought-stricken states must focus on how to utilize water sparingly. For too long
we have long been content to take this resource for granted. This idea is slowly
changing as water prices continue to rise. After all, gardeners must recognize
that they’re not simply paying for water but the corresponding sewage rates for
such water use as well - whether the water hits the drain or not.
So what can just
one person do to save water? What are
some easy ways to save water? You can either choose plants that require less
moisture to thrive, or you can build a garden that naturally captures and retains
water. A lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon to create what’s called a rain
garden. According to Ground Water Foundation “Compared to a
conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the
ground.” Why is this important? Because so much of urban space is asphalt,
rainwater quickly washes away after a storm, causing both flooding and
absorption of toxins that must be removed from that water in a treatment facility before it can be used again for
drinking, washing, or watering plants. Rain-garden plants are chosen not just
because they retain water, but because they often filter out toxins themselves.
Creating a rain
garden requires tightly planting shrubs and perennials amidst a bed of rocks or
mulch to trap rainwater runoff. As such, this type of garden should be
positioned near a low spot or where a naturally slope exists. If your landscape
doesn’t have either, it’s easy enough to create a 6-inch deep depression. A
berm should be constructed on the lowest side of the depression to retain
water. Be sure that you position your rain garden at least ten feet away from
your home.
The plants you
select should be able to survive periodic flooding. Be sure to plant in
groupings as a hedge against dislocation. Surrounding these plants with grasses
that prevent soil erosion is another way to fortify your rain garden. Planting
within a soil mixture of mostly sand, with equal parts topsoil and compost
works best.
Rain gardens
aren’t areas for stagnant water to pool. In fact, the water retained by a rain
garden after a rainfall generally drains within 48 hours. Rain gardens that
fail to drain within this time risk damaging plant roots. Ensuring that your
rain garden does not create a standing pool of water is as simple as conducting
a soil test and checking to see just how easy it is for water to
infiltrate the soil.
Finally, don’t
neglect to use mulch to safeguard your rain garden during dry days (shredded
hardwood bark is best). On a hot summer day, as much as 70% of water can
evaporate from the soil. A protective layer of mulch prevents evaporation from
occurring and helps hold moisture within the soil. Many types of mulch even add
helpful nutrients to the soil because they decompose over time. I layer my
gardens every spring with new mulch and over the years my soil has become
softer and richer while it feeds my plants.
One of the best
things about rain gardens is that landscapers are able to use indigenous plants
to create them, and those plants are better suited to the local habitat and to
the animals and insects within it - which means they are more likely to thrive
and nurture the living things within your natural ecosphere. They are also less
likely to need pampering or require pesticides or insecticides to keep them
looking great.
I built a rain
garden on the north side of our house several years ago. We had an issue with water
pouring down one of the downspouts from our two story home. The water would
literally flood the plants and wash away the mulch every time it rained hard.
It became very annoying and caused me a lot of extra work. We placed a drainage
tube under the soil attached to the gutter spout. The tube drops the water down
a dry river bed lined with stones about 8 inches deep. There are flowing
grasses that surround the rain garden. It’s a perfect and natural way to divert
the rain from the house foundation and because this area of the yard is so
sandy it provides some well needed moisture to the plant roots.
Rain gardens are
really a win-win solution for everyone. Making one in your yard this gardening
season isa great project for the West Michigan gardener this spring. If you are up to the challenge I would
love to see your pictures!