rain gardens for home drainage help, david dods, 06 09-12

Rain Gardens for Home Drainage Help

Based on:

The Blue Thumb Guide to

Raingardens

by Rusty Schmidt, Dan Shaw,

and David Dods

by

David Dods

TAME THE RAIN

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)and

City of Overland Park, Kansas

with funding through KDHE from an EPA 319 Grant

Photos: David Dods; Andy Dandino, MARC

Overland Park

Residential Stormwater Treatment

Cost-Share Reimbursement Program:

http://www.opkansas.org/Resident-Resources/STF-Cost-Share-Program

or go to: www.opkansas.org

and type “cost share” in the search box

Photos: David Dods

David Dods’ Contact Information

Day Job: Environmental Engineer

Green Solutions Stormwater Controls

for Municipal, Commercial, and

Industrial Sites

URS Corp.

8300 College Blvd., Suite 200

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

david.dods@urs.com

913.344.1022

In my Spare Time: Co-author,

The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens

Published by Waterdrop Innovations

Available at

www.Terracehorticulturalbooks.com

www.Amazon.com

email: raingardens@yahoo.com

Photos: David Dods; Lynn Hinkle

What is a

Rain Garden?

• A garden made to catch rain

water

• Collects drainage from

downspouts, driveways, patios,

sump pumps

• With deep-rooted plants that

don’t mind getting wet

occasionally

Photo: David Dods

What is a Rain Garden?

• A garden with a shallow bowl to collect water

• Soaks water into the ground; Slows runoff

• Dries out in 1 day

• Is not a wetland or Koi pond

• Creates attractive landscaping and habitat

Illustration: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations

Rain Garden Examples

Photo: David Dods

My Home Rain Garden (early Spring)

Collects Runoff from Driveway

Prevents Erosion in Yard

Photo: David Dods

My Home Rain GardenFilling up with Water

Front YardRoof Downspout to Rain Garden in Flower Bed

Photo: Rusty Schmidt & Washington Conservation District

Runoff from DownspoutBehind Shallow Retaining Wall on Sloped Yard

Yard: Lynn Hinkle, Weatherby LakePhotos: 1) Lynn Hinkle, 2) David Dods

Sump Pump Drain Point

Yard: Scott Cahail, Kansas City, MOPhoto: David Dods

Photo: David Dods

Controlling Parking Lot RunoffPine Ridge Presbyterian Church

Photo: David Dods

Urban Street Edges - Kansas CityKeeping Water Out of Sewers to Reduce Overflows

Rain Water in Your Back Yard:

Typical Home Drainage Problems

When a rain garden can help,

and when it can’t

Photo: David Dods

Let’s Aim Our Downspouts at Each Other’s Yard

Photo: David Dods

Are there any drainage issues here?

Photo: David Dods

Same Yard, Different Views

Photo: David Dods

Most common causes of water in basements

• Downspout drains right next to foundation

• Foundation excavation has settled over time, creating a depression right next to house

• Yard drains toward house

Can a rain garden help?

Extend downspout, grade yard to drain around house, place

rain garden in side yard to catch drainage

Photo: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

A Good Place for a Raingarden?

Maybe.

If a little water ponds here,

but not for long periods of

time, a rain garden may

work. Need to pick plants

carefully depending on

how long water sits here.

It is usually better to place

rain gardens uphill of the

ponding area – catch the

water where it originates,

not at the bottom of the

hill.

Photo: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

Can You Do Anything Here?

Probably can’t

manage this

much water,

especially if

drainage area is

large.

But a rain garden

may help the

yard somewhat.

Photo: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

Rain Garden Plants Along the Edge

Where Water Collects in Yard

Will need to pick

plants carefully,

depending on

how much water

stands here.

Photo: Jessi Veach, URS

Yikes !

Half the Neighborhood Drains to My Yard

A rain garden alone

won’t solve this.

Drainage from many

yards is running

downhill to this yard.

This needs a yard

drain or creek bed

around the house.

A rain garden may

help dry up the yard

around the drain inlet

or outlet.

Rain Garden Construction

Photo: Rusty Schmidt

Locating the Garden

Photo: David Dods

Locations:Near downspouts, driveways, sump pump outlets.

Stay 10 – 20 ft away from buildings +/-. Use judgment.

Farther if you have an old basement foundation, closer OK if no basement.

Places to Avoid

Photo: David Dods

Utility Lines

Septic Systems

Uphill of Buildings: Don’t soak water into ground

uphill of house

Behind Retaining Walls if Not Designed for Water

Lots of utility

lines in side

yard

Inspect & Test Your Soil

Photo: David Dods

Inspect site soils

Dig a hole. Look for

soil type, fill material,

compaction

Conduct a

percolation test

Percolation

Test

Illustration:

Marjorie Vigoren, City of Plymouth, MN

Source: The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens,

by Schmidt, Shaw, & Dods. Copyrighted.

Measure how

much water soaks

into the ground

over 24 hours

Select Garden Depth so That

Water Soaks Away in One Day

• Large plant selection available

• No mosquitoes

• Tolerates spring rains & summer drought

Illustration: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations

Sizing the Garden

Photo: David Dods

For residential yards, the bed depth is more important than the area. Make sure it drains in a day.

Average size:about 6’ x 8’ near one downspout

Fit it to your landscaping

Book has detailed sizing instructions

Preparing the Garden Bed

Photos: Rusty Schmidt, Carla Dods

• Remove Sod

• Dig out bowl shape

• Double-dig compacted clay to help plant root penetration

• Add 2-3” compost

• Till or dig in

• Rake to shape

Put as much effort into preparing the soil as you do selecting plants. Healthy soil grows healthy plants.

Shape & Depth of the Garden

Illustrations: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations LLC. From The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens. Copyrighted.

Dig out center to create shallow bowl. Use soil to create berm.

Minnetonka

near Shady Oak Lake

Photo courtesy of Washington Conservation District

Test Infiltration Before

Planting the Garden

Photo: Rusty Schmidt

PlantingInclude Cute Kids for Photos

Photo: Lynn Hinkle

Selecting Plants for Rain Gardens

Photo: Andy Dandino, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)

Deep RootsImprove Soil, Improve Infiltration, Survive Drought

Turf

Grass:

tiny

roots

Native Grass:

thick & deep

roots

Photos: David Dods

Photo: David Dods

Powell Gardens prairie restoraton

Really Deep Roots

Photo courtesy of Fred Rozumalski,

Barr Engineering

The Right Plant in the Right PlaceGood Advice for Any Garden

Photo: David Dods

First Considerations for Rain

Gardens:

• Moisture Preferences

• Soil Type and Drainage

Rain Gardens are not Wetlands or Water Gardens

Water should soak away in 1 day

Garden dries out between rains

Photo: David Dods

Rain Garden Planting Zones

and Moisture Preferences

Illustration: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations

Edges:

Dry

Sides:

Average

Bottom: Moist to Wet

Source: The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens. Copyrighted.

Rain Garden Planting Zones

Photo: David Dods

Center bottom is wetter longer;Edge dries out quickly

Garden Bottom if Soil is Poorly Drained and

Moist to WetSedges & Rushes: Some species tolerate wet and dry

Photos: David Dods

Palm Sedge

Carex Muskingumensis

Soft Rush

Juncus effusus

Garden Bottom if Soil is Well-Drained:Selected Grasses: Moisture tolerant species

Photos: 1) Missouri Botanical Garden, 2) David Dods

Switchgrass, ‘Shenandoah’

Switchgrass, ‘Northwind’

Garden Bottom: FlowersSome Wetland Edge & Floodplain Species Work

Photos: David Dods

Marsh Milkweed Southern Blue Flag Iris

Garden Sides: Average to Dry

Most of the Flowers Often Go Here

Photos: David Dods

Purple Coneflower Prairie Blazing StarBlack-Eyed Susan

I often use sedges, rushes, and grasses as the foundation plants

in the bottom, then add color on the sides and edges

Garden Edges: DryLots of Beautiful Choices

Photo: David Dods,

Location: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX

Additional Considerations:

Photo: David Dods

• Sun – Shade

• Plant Size

• Plant Aggressiveness

Sun Preferences

Photos: David Dods

Sun Shade

Rain gardens work in shade. Fewer

plant choices and color selections, but

still some nice options

Plant SizeTall and Sprawling vs. Compact

example: New England Aster

Native tolerates water and attracts butterflies, but is too large for many yards

‘Purple Dome’ cultivar of the native is similar, but smaller

Photos: David Dods

Photos: David Dods

River Oats

http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower

Prairie Cord Grass Obedient Plant

Photo: Rusty Schmidt

Plant AggressivenessWill it take over the garden and yard?

Some plants are good for erosion control

or habitat restoration, but not home

gardens

Switchgrass (native)

Photos: David Dods

Trees & ShrubsShade & Energy Savings

Black Gum Bald CypressWitch Hazel

Plant Material Choices(Olathe North High School Rain Garden Workshop)

Photo: David Dods

Pots: Establish fast, More expensive

Plugs: Cost effective for larger areas

Seed: I never use for rain gardens. Takes too long to establish

Mulch

Use Coarse, Double-

Shredded Hardwood

Pinebark Nuggets &

Cedar Chips Float

Photos: David Dods

Getting Water to the Garden

Downspout Extensions

Creek Bed

Photos: Rusty Schmidt

Creek Bed

Through

Sidewalk

Outlets

Photos: David Dods

Make sure the water overflows where you want it

to go during large storms

Protect against erosion if water flows over a berm

Finishing TouchesMake the Garden Look Deliberate

Photo: David Dods

Edging

Outlet

Inlet Splash Blocks

Accents

Care & Maintenance

First Growing Season

• Limit standing water while plants are small

• Water during dry periods

• Pull weeds

Photograph: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

Existing Garden Bed

Photos Courtesy of: Shawn Tracy

Example Garden Construction

berm

depression

Overflow (overland)

Photos: Shawn Tracy

Berm (w/ erosion control blanket)

Depression (w/ compost)

Photo: Shawn Tracy

Berm

Depression

Photos: Shawn Tracy

Overflow

point

Photos: Shawn Tracy

Photo: David Dods

Questions ?

David Dods’ Contact Information

Day Job: Environmental Engineer

URS Corp.

8300 College Blvd., Suite 200

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

david.dods@urs.com

913.344.1022

In my Spare Time: Co-author,

The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens

Published by Waterdrop Innovations

Available at

www.Terracehorticulturalbooks.com

www.Amazon.com

email: raingardens@yahoo.com

Photo: David Dods