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Landscape design and construction

Landscape Design and Construction

Rain Garden

Rain Gardens are an aesthetically pleasing and functional solution for dealing with water issues. As water runoff in the city becomes an increasingly larger issue, rain gardens have become more popular especially with the trend to go green. Rain gardens allow for natural processing of water runoff to occur on site through percolation methods, and planting materials that will absorb more water and can also survive periods of drought as well. Native plant materials are the best choice to use because of their ability to adjust to our climate and adaptability to the weather patterns.

When building a rain garden a specific location is chosen, downspouts direct water to that location or a swale is created to direct the water to that location. In that location the soil is removed to a certain depth and is filled with permeable materials such as sand and gravel along with original back fill to allow for the water to easily leach into the soils. The surrounding soils are amended and planted with water loving plant materials that will absorb the moisture. The idea is to hold the water until it is completed absorbed by the soils and surrounding plant material.

Rain gardens can be attractive by trying to add natural plantings and river stone with boulders, not only does this aide in the percolation but it adds a natural element that gives the feel of water without the actual existence of water it also allows a place for additional water to sit until the soil absorbs it.