The Rain Garden Landscape

Transcription

1 The Rain Garden Landscape Courtesy Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. Courtesy Low Impact Development Center, Inc..

2 Planting Your Rain Garden

3 ASTRA Communications The Rain Garden Landscape

4 The Rain Garden Landscape

5 Like Other Gardens Rain garden plant choices are determined by: Personal aesthetic Landscape setting Site conditions Maintenance

6 What makes Rain Gardens Unique? The primary need when choosing plants is to support the rain garden s function. A well-designed rain garden is both functional AND beautiful!

7 planting for Rain Garden Function Choose plants that can take the water (or lack or it) Remember the forest model Think pollution prevention Control erosion Plant for wildlife

8 Are rain gardens wet? The Rain Garden Environment

9 The Rain Garden Environment Extreme environment, similar to a floodplain or a seasonal wetland. Choose deeprooted plants that can tolerate a wide range of moisture conditions.

10 Rain Garden Zones Edge Emergent Semi-aquatic

11 The Rain Garden Environment Moisture regime depends upon site conditions

12 The Rain Garden Environment

13 Test Your Rain Garden Does it Work? Courtesy Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.

14 The Forest Model Rain gardens are designed to imitate forest functions. A Citizen s Guide to Phytoremediation, US EPA, 2001 Stream Corridor Restoration, FISRWG, 1998

15 Pollutants in the Rain Garden Nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) Heavy Metals (Copper) Salt, Deicers, Sand Car fluids (Gasoline, Antifreeze, Oil, etc.) Pesticides & Herbicides

16 What is a Native plant? A native plant is a plant that lives or grows naturally in a particular region without direct or indirect human intervention.

17 Benefits of Native Plants Adapted to local conditions, including soils & precipitation Don t require inputs of chemical fertilizers & pesticides Save time and money Provide the habitat wildlife, including pollinators, need Beautiful! Courtesy of Chris Bright, Earth Sangha

18 Natives Provide Habitat Food (Year-round) Water Shelter Places to Raise Young

19 Avoid Invasive Plants An invasive non-native plant is a species intentionally or accidentally introduced by human activity into a region in which it did not evolve and which aggressively competes with, and displaces, locally adapted native plant communities. Displace native species Reduce wildlife habitat Alter ecosystem processes Maintenance nightmare! Courtesy NPS

20 Inlet, Outlets & Berms

21 Inlet, Outlets & Berms Deep roots are key!

22 When Selecting Plants Choose plants wisely based on moisture conditions at your site. It s tough for rain garden plants! TEST your rain garden before the plants go in. Consider pollution inputs and mimic forest structure by including shrubs, perennials and grasses. Despite the forest model, be thoughtful about tree planting. Choose plants with deep roots that control erosion or reinforce entry and exit points. Plan for year-round habitat and aesthetics.

23 Design Create a garden room - develop clear garden edges and use the edges of your landscape Settle on a theme or plant community woodland garden, meadow, cottage garden Create dimension and interest. Vary height, bloom time and color, texture, overall shape Consider scale size matters! Plant densely, but plan for mature plant size

24 Design Plant in clumps of 3 7 plants of the same species to create bold color, repeat to create cohesion and pattern. Rule of 3 each plant should have at least 3 features you enjoy Stones, fences, benches and art can all be included in your rain garden g/raingarden_design/templates.htm

25 Seeds, Plugs or Pots? Seeds and Plugs Better for naturalistic gardens. Plant 1/2 to 1 ft. on center Pots Better for traditional gardens. Plant 3 inch to 1 gal 1 to 3 ft. on center

26 10 Rain Garden Plants Black Chokeberry (also Red Chokeberry) Winterberry holly Virginia Sweetspire Elderberry Arrowwood viburnum

27 10 Rain Garden Plants Brown-eyed or Blackeyedsusan Switchgrass Obedient plant Joe Pye weed Ox-eye sunflower

28 Rain Garden Plant Lists Resources Rain Garden Design and Construction (booklet) Plants for Bioretention - Ann English (LIDC, Inc.) 10 Rain Garden Plants Additional Web Resources VDOF Rain Garden Guide - Resources for Watershed-Friendly Gardeners ( Invasive Pocket Guide: MD Rainscapes: garden.htm

29 Local Rain Gardens Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Annandale Providence Supervisor s Office, Fairfax National Wildlife Federation, Reston Green Springs Garden, Alexandria Alexandria Central Library, Alexandria Audrey Moore RECenter/Wakefield Park, Annandale

30 Contact Information Christin Jolicoeur Watershed Planner

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