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#411171 Mar 19th, 2022 at 01:46 PM
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Shani Offline OP
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Has anyone on here previously built a Raingarden? A garden designed to be a water sink, to help lower over land runoff?


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Shani #411172 Mar 19th, 2022 at 04:05 PM
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I have not...but now you have me curious..I will have to look that up.


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Shani #411173 Mar 20th, 2022 at 04:36 AM
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No, I haven't either Shani but I did use that style of gardening over my septic field bed. The black eyed susan's and echinacea just thrive with the extra water.

Do you have a run off problem from your down spout's on your home?


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
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Shani #411234 Mar 31st, 2022 at 08:47 AM
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My whole backyard floods when it rains and takes forever to dry. It's been 3 weeks since the mud dried up in the front yard and yet the back is in horrible shape, can't let the kids out back there yet. And I need them out of here! The city has a rebate program for putting one in. I'm going to get a consultation to see if I qualify. The Drainage back there is horrible. It was okay the first few years we were here but last summer and this spring... I don't know who did one but something has changed.


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Shani #411392 May 4th, 2022 at 07:46 AM
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Hello,
I had a meeting with the Raingarden consultant about installing a garden here and we've determined that the from yard is perfect as all the rainwater runs over the lawn straight into the storm drains. It looks like If I can build a Rain Garden of 5.3 square meters (57 sq ft), I can get a city Rebate enough to cover the cost of building the garden. Now I just need to convince my kids to dig a big trench for the bed. The Garden has to be 40 cm (15 inches) deep lined with compost and mulch leaving a 20cm (8-inch) depression. I have to reroute the downspout to feed into the Garden for water input. In this case, I think I'll build an arch over our walkway to support the downspout on its way to the lawn, the other choice is to lift part of the walkway and bury the spout to the garden. Lay down some rocks to protect the input area and output if there is too much water to be absorbed.

So IF the city wants to pay for me to build a new garden, who am I to argue.


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Shani #411393 May 4th, 2022 at 09:08 AM
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Good luck with your venture Shani. Is there any one near you that has completed one to help guide you along the way?


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
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Shani #411396 May 4th, 2022 at 07:07 PM
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Wow that’s great.



Shani #411824 Aug 12th, 2022 at 02:36 PM
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So it took a lot longer than expected to complete the rain garden, the lack of rain along with super hot days did not help my desire to dig.
How to build a Rain Garden.

1. Pick a location and remove sod
2. Excavate and excavate some more.
3. Excavate to at least 40 cm (16 inches if there's already good drainage, twice that if bad drainage)
4. Redirect the downspout, to create an input for the garden and divert runoff.
5. Loosen the bottom, another 40cm, and add/mix in compost
6. Plant flood and drought-resistant plants. Preferably Pollinators.
7. Add 10 cm (4 inches) of mulch, make an inlet, and output pretty with river rocks

Why build a Rain Garden?
Rain gardens are designed to hold all the rainwater coming off the roof. Until it can be absorbed into the soil. Reducing the strain on the city's storm drain system.
And that's where our spare time has gone for the past three months.

My backyard is in shambles after all the dedication to the front yard.

3 Dig.jpg 5 Dig Dig Dig.jpg 6 Depth Check 1.jpg 8 Moving Downspout.jpg 10 Input.jpg 11 After.jpg

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Shani #411825 Aug 12th, 2022 at 03:01 PM
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Great job Shanie. My relatives told me that Guelph/Kitchener and Cambridge was sweltering with the heat in July.

Did you have any trouble with the municipality, having it in between town house property??


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
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Shani #411840 Aug 16th, 2022 at 09:45 AM
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Very nice. I see coneflowers.



Bestofour #411842 Aug 16th, 2022 at 10:54 AM
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Very nice, indeed !


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Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
JunieGirl #411847 Aug 17th, 2022 at 08:45 AM
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Shani Offline OP
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No trouble with the city about location. I love that now there is almost no grass left out front to mow.
Yes, we put in some coneflowers, Monarda, a hibiscus, black-eyed susans, coreopsis, beard tongue, obedient plant, and Baptista in the basin. With sedum, thyme, and lungwort to stabilize the top and sides.
It was way too hot and dry in June and July here. But SO far August is good. and I no longer have to water the plants daily. In the worst of it (just after planting) I was carrying upwards of 200 L (~50 gallons) in jugs out to the garden to keep it watered. Their soil had no moisture of its own and with the heat and thirsty plants and no hose out front, carrying pitchers of water seemed like the best option. At least till they established.


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May the wind always be at your back
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Shani #411857 Aug 20th, 2022 at 01:43 PM
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You were getting a lot of exercise!!!




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