Page 13 - 7166 - Rain Garden Handbook

PLAN 1 • Check with your local municipality to confirm requirements for your project. 7 7

• Confirm the location of existing utilities and avoid conflicts.
• Determine how much contributing area will drain to your rain garden.
• Observe how drainage flows from the contributing area and pick a location to capture
the runoff.
• Test the soil drainage rate in that location to be sure rain will soak into the ground.
• Identify a safe place to direct overflow.
Mandi Roberts • Determine the size and shape of your rain garden.

• Confirm that the selected location will accommodate the rain garden.

Build

2 • Lay out your rain garden using stakes, rope, ground paint, and/or other tools.
• Excavate the soil.
Erica Guttman
• Create an entry for water (extended rain gutter downspout, pipe, swale, or landscaped
area) into your rain garden.
• Level the excavated bottom of your rain garden (but do not compact the soil).
• Provide a rock-lined overflow.
Stewardship Partners • Obtain an approved rain garden soil mix or mix compost into your existing soil.

• Place the soil mix and leave space below the overflow for ponding.
• Level the surface of the rain garden soil mix, and be sure not to over compact the soil.

Plant • Use a variety of small trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and grasses.

3
• Select plants suitable for the three planting zones within your rain garden and around
the perimeter.
Erica Guttman • Cover exposed soil with mulch to minimize erosion and weeds.

• Provide water to establish plants.

Maintain • Keep inlet and overflow clear of debris and well protected with rock.
4

Erica Guttman • Do not use fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
• Provide water as needed.
• Provide additional mulch as needed.