RAIN GARDENS Maria Ballesteros Mindy Munoz Hernan Reyes Elizabeth Cox Rosa Garcia Katie Fritchey By P l a n t B i o l o g y F a l l 2 0 1 3 ( E M P A C T S ), K u r t i s C e c i l, I n s t r u c t o r N o r t h w e s t A r k a n s a s C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e, B e n t o n v i l l e, A R
Introduction Rain gardens are a good addition to anyone s landscape. Our group worked with Corrine at Compton Gardens to build a rain garden in the area. We also worked at NWACC to clear out gardens surrounding the buildings. There are many benefits to building a rain garden, besides the fact that they are appealing to the eye and attract insects that are beneficial to the environment.
Benefits of a Rain Garden Filter runoff pollution -Ex: parking lot Conserve water Water isn t wasted by ending up in the sewer, it is used up by plants Create habitat for birds and butterflies Enhance sidewalk appeal Increases garden enjoyment Protects rivers and streams
Benefits of Building a Rain Garden Reduces downstream flooding and erosion. Provides a habitat for wildlife. Requires less maintenance, watering, fertilizers, and pesticides than traditional gardens because of use of native and other locally adapted plants. Filters pollutants and reduces pollution in our waterways via native plant roots and healthy soil. Recharges groundwater by allowing water to filter rather than run along the surface into the drains.
Benefits of Building a Rain Garden Reduces volume of water flowing to sewer treatment facilities. Transforms your property in an easy and inexpensive way. Saves money on landscape irrigation and lowers water bill. Beautifies neighborhoods, models water conservation. Harvesting rain water is good for your land.
Methods of Building a Rain Garden Find a location Measure drainage area Create a design Choose you plants Lay out the garden Dig the garden Prepare the soil Plant the flowers and grasses Mulch the garden Finally, water and arrange downspouts
Materials Needed Shovel Spade or Gardening Hoe Compost or Fertilizer Mulch Assortment of Plants Stakes (recommended but not necessary) Gloves (recommended but not necessary) Bulldozer if necessary to adapt the land for the rain garden. Motivation
Why Harvest Rainwater? Harvesting rainwater is a good way to reduce, reuse, recycle. Enormous volumes of water are lost each winter as rain pours off of our roofs and into storm drains. Then, when summer comes back around, we use up to 50% of our water to irrigate our lawns. Harvesting rainwater to reuse in the summer is a great way to reduce waste while also saving money. Harvesting rainwater can also contribute to flood mitigation on a large scale and on individual property. Since rain gardens rely on the rain, in Northwest Arkansas harvesting rainwater is extremely helpful in keeping the rain garden alive and beautiful while not wasting hundreds of extra dollars on the water bill every month.
Harvesting Rain Water is Simple! All you need is a collection area, debris filter, transportation, and a storage facility. An easy area to use for your collection area is the roof of your house. Storage facilities are most efficiently made with plastic barrels. Transportation is easily made using gutters. Lastly, the debris filter is bought at a local gardening store and attached to the top of the gutter.
Maintaining a Rain Garden After planted and established, you may never need to water or fertilize a rain garden again. It must always be weeded, cleaned up, and re-mulched. In the first year you have to water and weed constantly. Young gardens need one inch of water every day until established. As garden matures, weeds will be pushed out by growing plants. Mulch must be raked periodically. Dead vegetation has to be cleared out periodically.
Maintaining a Rain Garden (cont.) Mulch allows for easy rain water penetration into the ground to get to the roots. Un-mulched rain gardens can turn into a hardpan meaning that the soil is cemented together basically and causes no water to be able to get to the plants. Every spring the mulch must be raked and replenished. In the fall, it is very important to remove dead vegetation because there will be a lot and it will make it harder for new vegetation to grow. The mulch is essential because it keeps the soil moist.
Compton Gardens Mission Statement: Our purpose to provide an enduring legacy for future generations through education and the preservation of the history, heritage and natural beauty of Northwest Arkansas.
About Dr. Neil Compton Was an Arkansas native, graduating from Bentonville High School and University of Arkansas Comptons principle interest was the scenic, scientific and outdoor recreational potential of the Ozark area Dr. Compton owned Crystal Bridges and the 25 acres around it. It was his plan to develop a native garden. Native Plant: A plant that is indigenous to a specific region. They often require little or no care once they are planted and often end up attracting many animals and insects.
In the process of installing the new plants in Compton Garden, Arkansas. Hernan and others started by laying out the garden followed by digging the garden approximately 4 to 8 inches deep to make sure the rain garden will hold water.
Visiting the Rain (Garden two months later) Not much growth has occurred since September some plants, such as the Cinnamon Fern bloom season is in the summer. Cinnamon Fern is a perfect plant for the Rain Garden since they grow up to six feet tall in moist woods, marshes, wet ditches, and steam banks.
Rain Garden at Northwest Arkansas Community College Although Rain Garden do no require much attention, it is important to clean up in the early Spring and Fall. Weeding and pulling out any dead material will help mature plants to be pushed out. Pulling out dead plants, we noticed a black and yellow garden spider. Rain Gardens provide a habitat for beneficial insects and birds and other wildlife.
Plant Species Summary Marsh Marigold-Caltha palustris Turtlehead- Chelone glabra Royal Fern- Osmunda regalis Christmas Fern- Polystichum acrostichoides Lady Fern- Athyriumfilix-femina Smooth Jaster- Symphotrichum leave Wild Sweet William- Phlox divaricata Wild Geranium- Geranium maculatum Monkey Flower- Mimulus Rigens Ozark Witch Hazel- Hamamelis vernalis Maidenhair fern- Adiantum pedatum Scouring Rush/Horsetail- Equisetum hyemale Celandine Poppy- Stylophorum diphyllum
Marsh Marigold Caltha Palustris
Marsh Marigold Marsh marigold emerge from shallow water or small mounds holding the plant just above the water. They are in sight in early spring but disappear faster than they emerge. They grow on average from 1 ft. up to 2 ft.
Turtlehead Chelone glabra
Turtlehead Best grown in moist to wet soil in full sun to part shade and grow to 1 to 2 feet tall. Turtlehead plants are used in natural medicine. It is claimed to be beneficial for indigestion, constipation, and stimulating the appetite.
Ozark Witchhazel
Ozark Witch hazel Ozark witch hazel is a winterblooming shrub from January to April and grows 6 to 10 feet tall.
Celandine Poppy Christmas Fern Lady Fern Maidenhair fern
Wild Geranium Wild Sweet Monkey Flower
Symphyotrichum Smooth Jaster
Wild Sweet William- Phlox divaricata
1. Teamwork Skills we learned! 2. How to build and maintain a Rain Garden! 3. How to help our community and improve the environment! 4. Hard work and dedication
Works Cited http://www.raingardennetwork.com/maintain.htm http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/raingarden/m aintenance.htm http://raingardens.spawnusa.org/top-10- reasons-to-build-a-rain-garden.html http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/52drou ghttolerant/ http://www.goodnaturepublishing.com/rainga rden.htm
Acknowledgements Kurtis Cecil, Plant Biology Instructor Becky Roark, Illinois Watershed Partnership C. Dianne Phillips, EMPACTS Program Facilitator/Webmaster Nathan Sorey, EMPACTS Lab Assistant, GIS Specialist