DIGGING IN: Rain Gardens

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Thursday, June 25, 2015, 6:00 am
By: 
Paige Filice

Rain garden located outside of Mid-MEAC, Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council, located in East Lansing off Grove Street.

 

Installing a rain garden in your yard is a simple, cost efficient, and environmentally friendly landscaping technique to reduce stormwater pollution. Rainwater flows over rooftops, driveways, and parking lots collecting oils, fertilizers, and many other pollutants eventually entering the sewer system and sometimes flowing directly to the river. Rain gardens capture rainwater, allowing it to slowly seep into the ground, filtering contaminants, and in turn keeping the river cleaner. The purpose of a rain garden is to mimic the natural absorption and pollutant removal that a forest or meadow naturally preforms.

Rain gardens are shallow, constructed depressions planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses. Generally they are dug 4-8” deep, and in some cases 1-2’ wide.  When designing a rain garden it is important to note they should be at least 10 feet away from a house, never over a septic system, and installed in a flat area of a lawn.  Rain gardens should be twice as long as they are wide, as a general rule of thumb.

Prior to starting any underground project call “Miss Dig” a statewide, one-call notification system (1-800-482-7171) to insure no underground utility lines will be impacted. Also, check that the water table is low enough: dig a small hole (approximately 1 foot deep and 4” in diameter), and verify no water is ponding. Lastly, before installing a rain garden check your soil type. Rain gardens do best in sandy, well-drained soil. It may be necessary to replace some soil with an absorbent soil mixture.

As with all landscaping, choose native plants with deep root systems and consider their bloom time, color, and overall texture. Use plants that bloom at various seasons to benefit pollinators. Clumping species into groups will also be more attractive than planting them individually and spaced farther apart. Apply mulch approximately 3 inches thick over the entire area, as it minimizes moisture loss and is a barrier to weeds.

Rain gardens are commonly found in parking lots and along city sidewalks. There are many rain gardens throughout the greater Lansing area. Rain Gardens were installed along Michigan Avenue in downtown Lansing and Washington Square, and are maintained by a variety of volunteer organizations. Rain gardens can also be found at Potter Park Zoo between the parking lot and the Red Cedar River.

Other benefits of rain gardens include asthetic appeal, reduced risk of potential home flooding, and habitat for birds and butterflies. More information about rain gardens can be found at www.raingardennetwork.com.

 

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