|
by Carol Brinkman, HCMG |
A Rain Garden as a Water
Feature
|
| |
|
Should environmentally
concerned gardeners
living in a dry climate
where drought comes as
regularly as the postman
consider a water
feature? Can a landscape
water feature be
environmentally
friendly? Yes, to both
questions if you are
thinking rain garden or
bioswale. |
|
When it rains, the rain
runs to our rivers,
lakes, and streams
carrying with it the
chemicals that are such
an accepted part of our
daily lives that little
thought is given to them
— oil from our cars;
fertilizers, herbicides
and insecticides; pet
and livestock wastes;
faulty septic systems;
the list goes on. |
|
PBS-TV recently aired
“Poisoned Waters” in
which run-off pollution
was cited as a major
contributor to water
pollution. Billy Kniffen
included a reference to
rain gardens in his
“Rain Water Harvesting”
presentation as an
example of landscaping
that can conserve and
protect water resources.
Rain gardens address
specifically the problem
of polluted run-off
water. The terms rain
garden and bioswale
often are used
interchangeably. Both
refer to depressions or
shallow areas (either
natural or man-made)
designed to correct
drainage. The primary
difference in the two is
the linear, or swale,
shape of the bioswale.
What makes a depression
a rain garden is that it
is planted with a
selection of plants that
will slow and filter
run-off water before it
reaches our water
sources. Think of it as
taking the “dry creek” a
step further by planting
in it. |
|
A rain garden can become
a beautiful, natural
addition to your
landscape while
providing for wildlife
and mitigating the
effects of our urban,
asphalt, concrete
environment. Native
plants and ornamental
grasses are used because
they are proven
sustainable. |
|
The preferred plants are
those that 1) will slow
the run-off so that it
can be absorbed and
filtered gradually; (2)
don’t mind having wet
feet for a while; (3)
can thrive during
extended dry spells. |
|
Native ornamental
grasses and sedges are
important in the design
for their ability to
produce a strong root
mass that will hold the
soil and slow the water.
As these root systems
cycle through decay and
rejuvenation, they build
up organic matter that
works like a sponge to
absorb the water and
slowly release it to
lower soils. |
|
To create a rain garden,
study your landscape to
observe the run-off
patterns. The websites
below can help site and
size the garden
correctly and provide
recommendations for
digging, shaping, and
amending the soil to
insure filtration. There
are also lists of Texas
natives for rain
gardens. You, too, can
have a colorful and
“green” water feature. |
Austin Grow Green – Rain
Gardens
For a list of
recommended plants for
central Texas
Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center
Search “rain gardens” to
see all Mr. Smarty
Plants answers to rain
garden questions.
Rain Gardens of West
Michigan
Though this is Michigan
site, they offer great
information about
creating a rain garden
The Rain Garden Network
This is actually a
commercial website, but
it, too, offers good
information
University of Wisconsin
Extension
This 32-page manual has
guidelines, photos and
diagrams in pdf format.
|
|
|
Left: Asphalt, etc. from
the author's
parking area is carried
downhill to the street
and straight to the
Guadalupe River. Center:
There’s a natural
depression where a rain
garden could be
installed to slow and
hold run-off.
Right: A beginning
rain garden. |
| |
