Rain Gardens - A Beautiful Way To Improve Water Quality

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 48 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #136 in Green, #13,575 overall

Stop Water Pollution In Its Tracks!

Did you know that 85% of pollutants in our lakes and streams is the result of stormwater runoff?

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 

This is a powerful video all about Rain Gardens and well worth watching.

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

Runtime: 11:52
5440 views
5 Comments:

powered by YouTube

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 

These links will give you all the information you need to design and plant your very own rain garden.
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 by clkohan

Black Eyed Susans

Native Grass - Tucson by clkohan

Native Grass in Tucson

IMG_2912.JPG.royal catchfly by Mattie13

Royal Catchfly

Prairie Smoke by BigSkyKatie

Prairie Smoke

Butterfly Weed with Indian Grass, Coreopsis & Wild Roses by clkohan

Butterfly Weed, Indian Grass, Coreopsis, Wild Roses

Purple Coneflower by clkohan

Purple Coneflower

Interrupted Fern in Lakescape by clkohan

Interrupted Fern.

Blue Violets by clkohan

Bird's Foot Violets

Ohio Spiderwort by clkohan

Ohio Spiderwort

Milkweed by clkohan

Milkweed

Prairie Rose by clkohan

Prairie Rose

Native Iron Plant Blossom by clkohan

Iron Plant

Harebell by clkohan

Harebell

Blooming Anise Hyssop by clkohan

Anise Hyssop

Heartleaf Golden Alexander by clkohan

Heartleaf Golden Alexander

Prairie Flox by clkohan

Prairie Flox

Sand Coreopsis and Ohio Spiderwort by clkohan

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!

  1. 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.
  2. Check the soil. Sand-based soil works well. Clay-soil gardens are not recommended.
  3. Use a garden hose to outline the area. Any shape is fine.
  4. 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.
  5. Dig a shallow trench from the downspout or sump pump outlet to the garden.
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  1. Recycled Yard Waste
  2. Leaves
  3. Pine Straw
  4. Pine Bark Mulch
  5. 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.

What Can You Do If You Live In A City? 

You can help, even if you're an apartment dweller

There are many ways to help save our natural waterways, even if you don't own or live in a home with a yard or garden.
  1. Never dump anything down a city street drain!
  2. Pick up after your pets.
  3. Periodically check your vehicles for leaks.
  4. Always recycle your motor oil.
  5. Wash your car at a car wash, not in your driveway.

New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day 

Did You Know.... 

...that the average gasoline powered mower tested by the EPA emits in one hour of operation the same amount of hydrocarbons that a 1992 Ford Explorer emits over 23,600 miles?
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) Buy Now

Did You Like This Lens? 

Did you learn something new?

If you would like to rate this lens, then you can do so here (Squidoo members only)

Add this to your lens »

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!

ReplyPosted 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.

ReplyPosted 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!

ReplyPosted 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.

ReplyPosted 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.

ReplyPosted May 14, 2009

BevsPaper wrote...

Extremely well written lens! Information here I hadn't thought about before. 5*s for U!

ReplyPosted May 08, 2009

Janiece wrote...

Wonderful lens! Thanks for the info! 5's!

ReplyPosted April 30, 2009

RolandTumble wrote...

Very nice. 5*, favorite & lensrolled to my eco-lens

ReplyPosted April 29, 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.

ReplyPosted April 28, 2009

AppalachianCountry wrote...

This is so needed. The mountain farmers down here do this all over. Great lens.

ReplyPosted April 15, 2009

 
1 of 4 pages

Do You Squidoo?  

Write about your experiences, your talents and your interests...

Everyone is an expert at something. What's your niche? How about sharing your expertise with others by creating Squidoo lenses like this one. It's fun, profitable and doesn't take much time at all. Plus you'll meet some awesome folks in the process!

Click HERE and follow the easy guidelines. You'll love Squidooing.

Copyright Notice 

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

by CherylK

A little about me:

I love gardening, reading, watching sunsets on our lake, turtles, traveling, art galleries, feng shui, photography, cooking, esp... (more)
Create a Lens!