How to Build a Rain Garden
Selecting a Location
- The most logical location for your rain garden is in an existing low spot in your yard.
- Place your garden where downspouts will drain into it, directing water with a shallow swale if necessary.
- Place your rain garden at least 10 feet from a home or building to keep water from seeping into and damaging the foundation.
Building the rain garden
It’s simple! Just follow three easy steps:
- Start by
digging a 4-8” depression with gradually
sloping sides as large in circumference as
you like. (A good rule of thumb is to size your
garden at 30 percent of the area of the roof
from which it will be collecting water.) A 4-8”
depth will allow water to be captured, but will
dry between rain events.
If you prefer to hold water in your garden in drier times, dig a portion a little deeper, say 18” in depth. Test your soil’s ability to hold water by filling the hole with water. If it drains out, you may want to install a plastic liner and place the plants around the liner.
- Plant natives recommended for our area.
- Add untreated, shredded hardwood
mulch to
a depth of 3” on all of the bare soil around
the plants to prevent erosion while your natives are establishing.
Maintenance
While your natives are establishing their roots, you’ll need to water them about every other day. This should be done for the first two to three weeks, or until the plants show that they are growing and doing well. When natives are established, they require little or no additional watering!
Remember not to fertilize natives. Fertilizer causes them to grow too tall and fall over. It also stimulates weed growth, creating competition for your natives.