How do you build a rain garden at home?
How do you build a rain garden at home?
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.
What materials do you need for a rain garden?
If you have loose, sandy soil, you will need to add water-absorbing compost and topsoil to the rain garden area. Dig out the soil to a depth of 6 inches, gently sloping down from the outside edges to the center where it should be deepest. Use the loose soil to create a low berm on the lowest side of the rain garden.
What are the different layers of a rain garden?
The rain garden consists of a vegetated or stone ponding area, a mulch layer, a planting soil layer, a sand bed, and a gravel base. The multiple layers work together to filter pollutants from water, allowing it to infiltrate into the groundwater supply uncontaminated.
How far should a rain garden be from the house?
10 feet
The rain garden should be at least 10 feet from the house so infiltrating water doesn’t seep into the foundation. Do not place the rain garden directly over a septic system.
How deep is a rain garden?
between four and eight inches deep
A 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 many plants should be in a rain garden?
Three plants. Daylilies (Hemerocallis), which may not be natives but can keep your rain garden in bloom over a long season if you plant early, midseason, and late varieties. Assorted heights and a rainbow of colors are available. Zones 4 to 11.
What size should a rain garden be?
100 to 300 square feet
A typical residential rain garden ranges from 100 to 300 square feet. Rain gardens can be smaller than 100 square feet, but very small gardens have little plant variety. If a rain garden is larger than 300 square feet it takes a lot more time to dig, is more difficult to make level, and could be hard on your budget.
Do rain gardens attract mosquitoes?
Will a Rain Garden Attract Mosquitoes? Water should stand in a rain garden no longer than 24 hours after the rain stops. Mosquitoes cannot complete their breeding cycle in this length of time, so a rain garden should not increase mosquito populations.
Are ferns good for rain gardens?
Sedges, Ferns and Grasses for Your Raingardens These plants love the sun and can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and shades of green to fit any taste. Ferns are another type of plant that loves the wet, but are usually in need of a large amount of shade.
How far should a rain garden be from your house?
The rain garden should be at least 10 feet from the house so infiltrating water doesn’t seep into the foundation. Do not place the rain garden directly over a septic system. It may be tempting to put the rain garden in a part of the yard where water already ponds.