Stop Water Pollution In Its Tracks!
Did you know that every parking lot and road that is built only increases the pollution?
Did you know that these pollutants affect wildlife habitats as well as our rivers, streams, lakes and other wetlands?
I took this photo of a sign embedded in the concrete near a street drain in Los Angeles. I was really pleased to see it.
In this lens, I'll try to explain why our eco-system is affected by storm runoff and how each of us can make a huge difference.
What Is A Rain Garden?
And Why Do We Need Them?
A rain garden is really a garden planted with native flowers and grasses. Rain Gardens are designed to absorb rainwater runoff from driveways, sidewalks and the roofs of homes and other buildings.
Every time it rains or every time you water your lawn or wash your car, the water runoff goes either directly into a river, lake or ocean or through a city drainage system and eventually into the rivers, lakes and oceans.
All of the water that runs off streets, driveways and roofs ends up in the rivers, lakes and oceans, too.
So think about what's in that water runoff...it's probably chemicals from fertilizers, exhaust from cars, etc.
Instead of flowing down into storm drains, the runoff from these impervious surfaces soaks into the ground, thereby reducing the amount pollution from exhaust fumes and lawn fertilizers, etc. that eventually ends up in our lakes, rivers and oceans.
If you live on a lake or at the seashore, consider lakescaping. Lakescapes are the equivalent of raingardens but they're saving our natural bodies of water right at the source! How great is that?
How A Rain Garden Can Help
Here's a quote from "Land And Water" The Magazine of Natural Resource Management and Restoration in an article about rainwater gardens in Burnsville, Minnesota."By capturing runoff in shallow depressions and letting it soak into the ground, rainwater gardens not only lowers the peak flow, but increases the base flow of water that reaches lakes and streams, but help recharge stores of groundwater in aquifers. Moreover, they filter out sediment and other pollutants like oil, grease and heavy metals by catching about the first inch of runoff, which contains the highest concentration of pollutants.
Rainwater gardens transform stormwater from a destructive carrier of pollution into a source of sustenance for plant and wildlife habitats: the plants thrive on nitrogen and phosphorus, while their stems trap sediment."
Just One Example Of A Rain Garden
A Beautiful Solution To Water Pollution
NOTE: It's not as long as it looks because for some reason it will run twice. You can stop it after it's first run.
Rain Gardens
A rain garden is an attractive landscaping feature planted with perennial native plants. It is a bowl-shaped garden, designed to absorb stormwater run-off from impervious surfaces such as roofs and parking lots. http://www.raingardens.org
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Grants for Planting Rain Gardens
Check with your county Soil and Water Conservation District to see if they are offering grants for planting rain gardens or lakescaping or other land restoration projects. There may be funds available in your area.
A Newly Planted Rain Garden
First Planting
This rain garden is in Minnesota and it's brand new. It'll catch the runoff from the road and sidewalk. Notice its shape and position. It'll be beautiful in a very short period of time.
Rain Gardens typically have more wildflowers than grasses so they're usually more colorful when they're mature. Be sure to plant the taller varieties at the back or in the center and the smaller wildflowers and sedges around the edges.
Rain Garden Links
- Native Rain Garden
- This is hands down the best website I've found on the subject of rain gardens. No matter where you live in the United States, you will find everything you need at this website to plant your perfect rain garden.
- Urban Home
- New approaches to old challenges.
- 10,000 Rain Gardens
- This Kansas City website is one of the best I've seen. It's got tons of information that useful no matter where you live.
- Rain Garden Network | Photo Gallery
- Rain Garden Network offers planning tools, installation services and education & outreach materials & services to homeowners, organizations and municipalities
Rain Garden Flowers
There are hundreds of beautiful wildflowers that can be used in rain gardens. The best wildflowers to use are those native to your particular location.
We have all of these and many more in our Lakescape. They're fabulous for rain gardens, too.
I took all but two of these photos (Royal Catchfly and the Prairie Smoke). Although we do have both in our gardens, I simply haven't managed to catch them at just the right time.
Black Eyed Susans
Native Grass in Tucson
Royal Catchfly
Prairie Smoke
Butterfly Weed, Indian Grass, Coreopsis, Wild Roses
Purple Coneflower
Interrupted Fern.
Bird's Foot Violets
Ohio Spiderwort
Milkweed
Prairie Rose
Iron Plant
Harebell
Anise Hyssop
Heartleaf Golden Alexander
Prairie Flox
Sand Coreopsis & Ohio Spiderwort
Rain Garden Basics
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
I am copying this list verbatim from the Minnesota DNR website because it describes perfectly the procedure for basic planting and maintenance of Rain Gardens. It was written by a guy named Tom Dixon.
I just couldn't have said it better, myself!
- Choose a low or wet spot in your yard where water drains naturally. The closer to the street, the better the spot. Make sure it's at least 15 feet from any home foundation to avoid basement wetness.
- Check the soil. Sand-based soil works well. Clay-soil gardens are not recommended.
- Use a garden hose to outline the area. Any shape is fine.
- After checking for underground power lines and other utilities, dig a shallow depression, with the center at a depth of 12 to 18 inches, feathering out to the perimeter.
- Dig a shallow trench from the downspout or sump pump outlet to the garden.
- Choose native plants and cultivars that tolerate drought and occasional drenching. As a general rule of thumb, plants should be about 18 inches apart, or one plant per 2.5 square feet.
- Mow or remove the dead vegetation each spring, or burn it off if local ordinances allow. Weed three times per growing season. (Tree seedlings are usually the most abundant weeds.)
Mulching Your Newly Planted Rain Garden
Protecting the tiny plants
When you create a rain garden or a lakescape, it's important to protect the tiny plants after you've set them into the earth. Mulching the plants helps keep the moisture to the roots until they become strong. After the plants are established and spreading, they will need very little care. Good Mulch and Bad Mulch
Protect Louisiana's Cypress Forests
Please do not use cypress mulch in any of your gardens. The cypress forests of Louisiana are being destroyed at an alarming rate by indiscriminate clear cutting. This not only affects the critical habitat but it removes the natural protection against hurricane damage to the coastline.
There are a number of sustainable alternatives to cypress mulch and I've listed some here from the Save Our Cypress website. Read more about this at Save Our Cypress
- Recycled Yard Waste
- Leaves
- Pine Straw
- Pine Bark Mulch
- Eucalyptus Mulch
Want to learn more?
Squidoo Lenses You Should Visit.
Rain gardens are just one step in the right direction. For lots more information about how you can help, please visit these other important Squidoo pages.-
Let's Stop Polluting the Oceans!
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A few months ago, I presented to a group of 7th graders about the harmful effects of plastics, especially in our oceans. Recently, Oprah brought attention to the problem after seeing a video of plastic waste in the ocean the size of Texas! Did you k...
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Lakescaping - Restoring Natural Shorelines
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Believe it or not, everyone has waterfront property. Yes, it's true! Even if you live in the middle of a city! In this lens, I'll attempt to answer why that's true and to explain why lakescaping can help to save our natural waterways, wherever they...
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Water Conservation
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Water Conservation - Something most Central European and North American people did not really think about much .... until recently. Fortunately, it's now slowly entering into everybody's concience, that water is a finite good and if we don't pay close...
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The Water Around Us
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Although water is all about us, seen and unseen, we still find it mysterious and, in many ways, one of the least understood of all our natural resources. The Earth is a watery planet, with most of its surface covered with oceans and seas. The presen...
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Rain Gardens-Nature's Water Filters
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A rain garden is a landscape feature that collects storm water runoff from roofs, driveways and paved surfaces in a bermed garden area. Rain garden designs are simple - they're basically a shallow depression or bowl shape surrounded by planted areas....
What Can You Do If You Live In A City?
You can help, even if you're an apartment dweller
- Never dump anything down a city street drain!
- Pick up after your pets.
- Periodically check your vehicles for leaks.
- Always recycle your motor oil.
- Wash your car at a car wash, not in your driveway.
New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day
Did You Know....
SOURCE: Green Seal's Report
Astonishing!
Learning About Rain Gardens
A Useful Resource
Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape
Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 07/06/2009) 
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Your Comments and Suggestions, Please
Tell me what you think - good or bad, I can take it. Just be polite, please.
Thank you very much!
RinchenChodron wrote...
Very well written and interesting - I actually read every word! Thanks for an informative and creative and meaningful lens - 5 stars and a fav. Best wishes in reaching Giant Squid very soon!
Posted June 18, 2009
Demaw wrote...
In my area people are cementing up their front yards for convenience and to park their extra cars. Now the local politicians want to pass a law that says they have to leave a certain percentage with gravel or anything that would allow water to soak in. This would help with the problem of overflowing sewers and flooding. I love the beautiful pictures of the flowers in your garden. 5 plus lens.
Posted June 10, 2009
flipflopnana wrote...
I have moved recently and have been working on landscaping plans. I think I need to change them a little. Thanks so much for your information, Great lens!
Posted June 06, 2009
Pastiche wrote...
We think alike when it comes to gardening and protecting the watershed. Thanks for visiting my Rain Gardens lens and for your kind comments- 'rolled back to this rain garden lens as another solid resource.
Posted May 15, 2009
kimmanleyort wrote...
Thanks for featuring my lens. This is a wonderful lens and very practical - one way each person can make a difference.
Posted May 14, 2009
BevsPaper wrote...
Extremely well written lens! Information here I hadn't thought about before. 5*s for U!
Posted May 08, 2009
Lazy_Environmentalist wrote...
Great lens! You've put together a lot of helpful information here. I'd love for you to visit my lens and say hello when you have the chance.
Posted April 28, 2009
AppalachianCountry wrote...
This is so needed. The mountain farmers down here do this all over. Great lens.
Posted April 15, 2009
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by CherylK
I love gardening, reading, watching sunsets on our lake, turtles, traveling, art galleries, feng shui, photography, cooking, esp... (more)
