rain gardens for home drainage help, david dods, 06 09-12
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Rain gardens for home drainage help, david dods, 06 09-12TRANSCRIPT
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
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: [email protected]
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
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: [email protected]
Photo: David Dods