A Gardeners Forum Forums Thread Like Summary - Raingarden

Has anyone on here previously built a Raingarden? A garden designed to be a water sink, to help lower over land runoff?

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.

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.

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