DIY Rain Garden: Tips For Building And Installation: Rain Garden Construction Detail
What is a Rain Garden?
The concept of rain gardens was developed in the late 1980s in Prince George's County, MD, and is termed "bioretention". The idea was to use planted areas as a sponge to soak up polluted stormwater and filter out impurities before allowing the water to slowly be absorbed into groundwater aquifers.
Stormwater management has become quite costly for municipalities. The use of bioretention facilities is much more cost-effective than traditional stormwater methods, and this approach treats water as a resource, not as waste.
This guide provides readers with step-by-step instructions for designing and installing a rain garden on their property. A rain garden is a type of stormwater best management practice. They collect and cleanse rainwater and snowmelt by allowing it to be absorbed into the ground rather than it draining into the street and into the storm sewer system. Homeowners and business owners can add value to their property and improve local water quality by adding a rain garden to their landscapes. Native plants can be used in rain gardens and provide excellent habitats for birds, bees, and butterflies.
It features updated design calculations, material specifications, plant lists, and maintenance checklists. Readers begin by learning the importance of rain gardens and where to located them in a yard. Two designs are offered, basic and enhanced rain gardens, the latter featuring subdrain infrastructure. Detailed instructions are provided for calculating the correct size and depth for managing most rainfall events in Iowa. Once the design is complete, instructions are included for creating a comprehensive list of materials and installing a rain garden as a DIY project or as a contractor-led project. The final chapters provide guidance on plant selection and rain garden maintenance. Several helpful appendices are included, such as sample rain garden plant layouts and how to calculate soil amendments.
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