2,121
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − [[File:Rain Garden Schematic.png|thumb|Schematic illustrating the components of a rain garden.]] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Line 10:
Line 27: − <strong>The fundamental components of a rain garden are:</strong>+ − + − <strong>Additional components may include:</strong>+ − + − + + + + + + + + Line 26:
Line 50: − + + + Line 46:
Line 72: − + − + − Line 71:
Line 96: − + − + + + + + − + + + + + + +
no edit summary
This article is about planted installations designed to capture surface runoff in an amended soil. <br>
This article is about planted installations designed to capture surface runoff in an amended soil. <br>
For more highly engineered systems, see [[Bioretention cells]]. <br>
For more highly engineered systems, see [[Bioretention]]. <br>
<imagemap>
Image:Rain garden.png|thumb|700 px|An image of a typical rain garden, with various vegetation, shrub species, and perennials to increase infiltration, filter out pollutants and reduce runoff/overland flow directed into the facility from rainwater collected from a building's roof. Rain gardens also provide food and shelter for pollinators, bird species, and other wildlife. More complex rain gardens with drainage systems and amended soils are often referred to as [[bioretention]] facilities. <span style="color:red">''A note: The following is an "image map", feel free to explore the image with your cursor and click on highlighted labels that appear to take you to corresponding pages on the Wiki.''</span>
circle 408 129 106 [[Shrubs]]
circle 394 921 102 [[Shrubs]]
poly 219 169 295 150 334 218 316 261 218 264 [[Stone]]
poly 211 265 211 342 245 384 282 345 332 360 371 298 414 299 445 329 499 315 523 327 524 278 468 223 411 244 346 221 319 264 [[Mulch]]
poly 138 1017 172 1073 405 1121 509 1124 617 1074 627 1016 521 1066 382 1069 [[Amended soil]]
poly 286 1100 431 1170 519 1162 618 1080 522 1123 412 1123 [[Sand]]
circle 536 215 52 [[Perennials]]
circle 591 321 51 [[Perennials]]
circle 173 213 53 [[Grasses]]
circle 154 312 55 [[Grasses]]
circle 187 399 52 [[Grasses]]
rect 108 904 256 986 [[Grasses]]
rect 216 989 307 1036 [[Downspout disconnection]]
poly 150 6 253 156 230 162 128 20 [[Downspout disconnection]]
poly 506 905 495 963 472 997 445 1022 391 1062 517 1058 628 1007 617 928 [[Perennials]]
</imagemap>
[[File:Wheelwright Aug 15 2012 (14) 550x550.jpg|thumb|Disconnected downspout routing water into a rain garden.]]
[[File:Wheelwright Aug 15 2012 (14) 550x550.jpg|thumb|Disconnected downspout routing water into a rain garden.]]
*Capturing the flow from disconnected downspouts
*Capturing the flow from disconnected downspouts
*Community design/build projects for raising awareness about stormwater capture and functional landscapes}}
*Community design/build projects for raising awareness about stormwater capture and functional landscapes}}
'''The fundamental components of a rain garden are:'''
*An amended soil mix
*An amended soil mix
*Suitable planting
*Suitable [[plants|planting]]
'''Additional components may include:'''
*A splash pad of rocks to prevent the downspout flow from eroding the soil
*A splash pad of [[stone]] to prevent the downspout flow from eroding the soil
*An overflow channel to another are of garden
*A simple overflow [[swale]] to another area of the garden
==Planning Considerations==
==Planning Considerations==
Raingardens look like typical gardens. However, their [[infiltration]] and [[bioretention]] functions are much greater than normal gardens. By landscaping areas to include a surface depression of approximately 150 mm, rain gardens allow runoff from residential properties to collect and to easily absorb into the ground. Within the rain garden, special types of soil, '[[filter media]]' or [[soil amendments]] increase the amount of water absorbed by the garden and infiltrated into native soils.
Location is very important to a functioning rain garden. When looking at potential locations, look for low areas where runoff can be easily be directed into the garden. Rain gardens are a great option for residential LID retrofits because homeowners can customize the garden to suit their desired styles. They can be planted with a variety of vegetation including [[Shrubs: List| shrubs]], [[Graminoids: List|grasses]] and [[Perennials: List|flowers]].
A well-designed rain garden can be maintained with minimal care, which is a great marketing point for persuading homeowners. In the first two years, the plants will need watering to ensure they become established. After this establishment period, the garden should only need simple maintenance, e.g. weeding.
For a table summarizing information on planning considerations and site constraints see [[Site considerations]].
==Design==
==Design==
*The aesthetic can range from very naturalistic to quite formal, depending on the planting plan.
*The aesthetic can range from very naturalistic to quite formal, depending on the planting plan.
*Vegetation must also be capable of tolerating prolonged wet and dry periods unless an irrigation plan is in place
*Vegetation must also be capable of tolerating prolonged wet and dry periods unless an irrigation plan is in place
*If the facility is intended to be relatively inconspicuous, then the tallest plant material should be placed into the deepest part of the rain garden.
*If the facility is intended to be relatively inconspicuous, then the tallest plant material should be placed into the deepest part of the rain garden. Otherwise, choose taller plants for the back of the garden tapering the height down to the front of the garden. <ref name=LO>Peel Fusion Landscaping
</ref>.
Since rain gardens are typically smaller scale homeowner projects smaller stock plants may be considered. Smaller containers may be easier to purchase, transport, and plant, but it may take longer to have a fully vegetated garden. Plant material per Canadian Standards for Nursery Stock, Eighth Edition. Seed planting is not recommended for rain gardens. Plants should be container grown, balled and burlapped or wire basket.
Since rain gardens are typically smaller scale homeowner projects smaller stock plants may be considered. Smaller containers may be easier to purchase, transport, and plant, but it may take longer to have a fully vegetated garden. Plant material per Canadian Standards for Nursery Stock, Eighth Edition. Seed planting is not recommended for rain gardens. Plants should be container grown, balled and burlapped or wire basket.
|-
|-
! Mid Zone
! Mid Zone
| Often referred to as the floodfringe area. This zone is inundated less frequently (2 – 100 year storm events) and has periodically high levels of moisture in the soil. The ecology of this zone is a transition from the Mineral Meadow Marsh/Beach-type community to an upland community.
| Often referred to as the flood fringe area. This zone is inundated less frequently (2 – 100 year storm events) and has periodically high levels of moisture in the soil. The ecology of this zone is a transition from the Mineral Meadow Marsh/Beach-type community to an upland community.
|-
|-
! High Zone
! High Zone
| Often referred to as upland area. The ecology of this zone is terrestrial due to its elevation in relation to the filter bed. The zone most closely resembles a Cultural Meadow or a Cultural Thicket community, depending on the mix of grasses, herbaceous material, shrubs and trees utilized.
| Often referred to as upland area. The ecology of this zone is terrestrial due to its elevation in relation to the filter bed. The zone most closely resembles a Cultural Meadow or a Cultural Thicket community, depending on the mix of grasses, herbaceous material, shrubs and trees utilized.
|}
|}
[[File:Soil moisture zones levels.PNG|600px|thumb|A simplified schematic depicting the three primary zones associated with soil moisture levels and the appropriate plant species selected for each zone's specific soil characteristics, best adapted to the area's growing conditions. ([https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/com_lo_rain-ready-guide_20220328-FINAL3.pdf|Photo Source: CVC, 2022])<ref>CVC. 2022. Native Plants for Rain-ready Landscapes> plant these native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and groundcovers to help manage stormwater - beautifully. cvc.ca/GreenYourProperty. https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/com_lo_rain-ready-guide_20220328-FINAL3.pdf</ref>]]
'''Low Zone'''
'''Low Zone'''
*Mineral Meadow Marsh plant community
*Mineral Meadow Marsh plant community
*A variety (min. five) species should be used to prevent a monoculture.
*A variety (min. five) species should be used to prevent a monoculture.
==Incentives and Credits==
==Landscaping Design Consideration==
<h3>In Ontario</h3>
*In natural areas, a diversity of plant types not only adds beauty but also create a thick underground root matrix that keeps the entire plant community in balance. In fact, 80% of the plant mass in native prairie communities is underground. Once the rain garden has matured and your sedges, rushes and grasses have established a deep, thick root system, there will be less change in species location from year to year, and weeds will naturally decline. <ref>Appendix D - Low Impact Development Concepts, Rain Gardens: A how-to manual for homeowners, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Page 15</ref>.
*Smooth out any sharp corners to create flow in your garden.
*Neat edges can be established using pavers, walls or bands of turf create an attractive amenity within the residential landscape.
==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Bioretention cells]]
*[[Bioretention]]
*[[Downspout disconnection]]
*[[Downspout disconnection]]
==External Links==
==External Links==
*[http://www.raingardentour.ca/ Raingarden tour]
*[https://rainscapeto.ca/ RainScapeTO]
*[https://rainscapeto.ca/ RainScapeTO]
==Gallery==
{{:Rain gardens: Gallery}}
==References==
[[category:infiltration]]
[[category:infiltration]]