Rain gardens for home drainage help, david dods, 06 09-12

1. Rain Gardens for Home Drainage Help
Based on:
The Blue Thumb Guide to
Raingardens
by Rusty Schmidt, Dan Shaw,
and David Dods
by
David Dods

2. TAME THE RAIN
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)
and
City of Overland Park, Kansas
with funding through KDHE from an EPA 319 Grant
Photos: David Dods; Andy Dandino, MARC

3. Overland Park
Residential Stormwater Treatment
Cost-Share Reimbursement Program:
http://www.opkansas.org/Resident-Resources/STF-Cost-Share-Program
or go to: www.opkansas.org
and type “cost share” in the search box
Photos: David Dods

4. David Dods’ Contact Information
Day Job: Environmental Engineer
Green Solutions Stormwater Controls
for Municipal, Commercial, and
Industrial Sites
URS Corp.
8300 College Blvd., Suite 200
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
david.dods@urs.com
913.344.1022
In my Spare Time: Co-author,
The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens
Published by Waterdrop Innovations
Available at
www.Terracehorticulturalbooks.com
www.Amazon.com
email: raingardens@yahoo.com
Photos: David Dods; Lynn Hinkle

5. What is a
Rain Garden?
• A garden made to catch rain
water
• Collects drainage from
downspouts, driveways, patios,
sump pumps
• With deep-rooted plants that
don’t mind getting wet
occasionally
Photo: David Dods

6. What is a Rain Garden?
• A garden with a shallow bowl to collect water
• Soaks water into the ground; Slows runoff
• Dries out in 1 day
• Is not a wetland or Koi pond
• Creates attractive landscaping and habitat
Illustration: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations

7. Rain Garden Examples

8. My Home Rain Garden (early Spring)
Collects Runoff from Driveway
Prevents Erosion in Yard
Photo: David Dods

9. My Home Rain Garden
Filling up with Water
Photo: David Dods

10. Front Yard
Roof Downspout to Rain Garden in Flower Bed
Photo: Rusty Schmidt & Washington Conservation District

11. Runoff from Downspout
Behind Shallow Retaining Wall on Sloped Yard
Yard: Lynn Hinkle, Weatherby Lake
Photos: 1) Lynn Hinkle, 2) David Dods

12. Sump Pump Drain Point
Yard: Scott Cahail, Kansas City, MO
Photo: David Dods

13. Controlling Parking Lot Runoff
Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church
Photo: David Dods

14. Urban Street Edges - Kansas City
Keeping Water Out of Sewers to Reduce Overflows
Photo: David Dods

15. Rain Water in Your Back Yard:
Typical Home Drainage Problems
When a rain garden can help,
and when it can’t

16. Let’s Aim Our Downspouts at Each Other’s Yard
Photo: David Dods

17. Are there any drainage issues here?
Photo: David Dods

18. Same Yard, Different Views
Photo: David Dods

19. Most common causes of water in basements
• Downspout drains right next to
foundation
• Foundation excavation has
settled over time, creating a
depression right next to house
• Yard drains toward house
Can a rain garden help?
Extend downspout, grade yard to drain around house, place
rain garden in side yard to catch drainage
Photo: David Dods

20. A Good Place for a Raingarden?
Maybe.
If a little water ponds here,
but not for long periods of
time, a rain garden may
work. Need to pick plants
carefully depending on
how long water sits here.
It is usually better to place
rain gardens uphill of the
ponding area – catch the
water where it originates,
not at the bottom of the
hill.
Photo: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

21. Can You Do Anything Here?
Probably can’t
manage this
much water,
especially if
drainage area is
large.
But a rain garden
may help the
yard somewhat.
Photo: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

22. Rain Garden Plants Along the Edge
Where Water Collects in Yard
Will need to pick
plants carefully,
depending on
how much water
stands here.
Photo: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

23. Yikes !
Half the Neighborhood Drains to My Yard
A rain garden alone
won’t solve this.
Drainage from many
yards is running
downhill to this yard.
This needs a yard
drain or creek bed
around the house.
A rain garden may
help dry up the yard
around the drain inlet
or outlet.
Photo: Jessi Veach, URS

24. Rain Garden Construction
Photo: Rusty Schmidt

25. Locating the Garden
Locations:
Near downspouts,
driveways, sump pump
outlets.
Stay 10 – 20 ft away
from buildings +/-. Use
judgment.
Farther if you have an
old basement foundation,
closer OK if no
basement.
Photo: David Dods

26. Places to Avoid
Utility Lines
Septic Systems
Uphill of Buildings: Don’t
soak water into ground
uphill of house
Lots of utility
Behind Retaining Walls if lines in side
Not Designed for Water yard
Photo: David Dods

27. Inspect & Test Your Soil
Inspect site soils
Dig a hole. Look for
soil type, fill material,
compaction
Conduct a
percolation test
Photo: David Dods

28. Percolation
Test
Measure how
much water soaks
into the ground
over 24 hours
Illustration:
Marjorie Vigoren, City of Plymouth, MN
Source: The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens,
by Schmidt, Shaw, & Dods. Copyrighted.

29. Select Garden Depth so That
Water Soaks Away in One Day
• Large plant selection available
• No mosquitoes
• Tolerates spring rains & summer drought
Illustration: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations

30. Sizing the Garden
For residential yards, the bed
depth is more important than
the area. Make sure it drains
in a day.
Average size:
about 6’ x 8’ near one
downspout
Fit it to your landscaping
Book has detailed sizing
instructions
Photo: David Dods

31. Preparing the Garden Bed
• Remove Sod
• Dig out bowl shape
• Double-dig compacted clay to
help plant root penetration
• Add 2-3” compost
• Till or dig in
• Rake to shape
Put as much effort into preparing
the soil as you do selecting
plants. Healthy soil grows
healthy plants.
Photos: Rusty Schmidt, Carla Dods

32. Shape & Depth of the Garden
Dig out center to create shallow bowl. Use soil to create berm.
Illustrations: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations LLC. From The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens. Copyrighted.

33. Minnetonka
near Shady Oak Lake
Photo courtesy of Washington Conservation District

34. Test Infiltration Before
Planting the Garden
Photo: Rusty Schmidt

35. Planting
Include Cute Kids for Photos
Photo: Lynn Hinkle

36. Selecting Plants for Rain Gardens
Photo: Andy Dandino, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)

37. Deep Roots
Improve Soil, Improve Infiltration, Survive Drought
Turf
Grass:
tiny Native Grass:
roots thick & deep
roots
Photos: David Dods

38. Really Deep Roots
Photo: David Dods
Photo courtesy of Fred Rozumalski,
Powell Gardens prairie restoraton Barr Engineering

39. The Right Plant in the Right Place
Good Advice for Any Garden
First Considerations for Rain
Gardens:
• Moisture Preferences
• Soil Type and Drainage
Photo: David Dods

40. Rain Gardens are not Wetlands or Water Gardens
Water should soak away in 1 day
Garden dries out between rains
Photo: David Dods

41. Rain Garden Planting Zones
and Moisture Preferences
Edges:
Dry
Sides:
Average
Bottom: Moist to Wet
Illustration: Dan Shaw, Waterdrop Innovations
Source: The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens. Copyrighted.

42. Rain Garden Planting Zones
Center bottom is wetter longer;
Edge dries out quickly
Photo: David Dods

43. Garden Bottom if Soil is Poorly Drained and
Moist to Wet
Sedges & Rushes: Some species tolerate wet and dry
Palm Sedge Soft Rush
Carex Muskingumensis Juncus effusus
Photos: David Dods

44. Garden Bottom if Soil is Well-Drained:
Selected Grasses: Moisture tolerant species
Switchgrass, ‘Shenandoah’
Switchgrass, ‘Northwind’
Photos: 1) Missouri Botanical Garden, 2) David Dods

45. Garden Bottom: Flowers
Some Wetland Edge & Floodplain Species Work
Marsh Milkweed Southern Blue Flag Iris
Photos: David Dods

46. Garden Sides: Average to Dry
Most of the Flowers Often Go Here
Purple Coneflower Black-Eyed Susan Prairie Blazing Star
I often use sedges, rushes, and grasses as the foundation plants
in the bottom, then add color on the sides and edges
Photos: David Dods

47. Garden Edges: Dry
Lots of Beautiful Choices
Photo: David Dods,
Location: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX

48. Additional Considerations:
• Sun – Shade
• Plant Size
• Plant Aggressiveness
Photo: David Dods

49. Sun Preferences
Sun Shade
Rain gardens work in shade. Fewer
plant choices and color selections, but
still some nice options
Photos: David Dods

50. Plant Size
Tall and Sprawling vs. Compact
example: New England Aster
Native tolerates water and attracts butterflies, but is too large for many yards
‘Purple Dome’ cultivar of the native is similar, but smaller
Photos: David Dods

51. Plant Aggressiveness Switchgrass (native)
Will it take over the garden and yard?
Some plants are good for erosion control
or habitat restoration, but not home
gardens
Prairie Cord Grass Obedient Plant River Oats
http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower Photo: Rusty Schmidt Photos: David Dods

52. Trees & Shrubs
Shade & Energy Savings
Witch Hazel Black Gum Bald Cypress
Photos: David Dods

53. Plant Material Choices
(Olathe North High School Rain Garden Workshop)
Pots: Establish fast, More expensive
Plugs: Cost effective for larger areas
Seed: I never use for rain gardens. Takes too long to establish
Photo: David Dods

54. Mulch
Use Coarse, Double-
Shredded Hardwood
Pinebark Nuggets &
Cedar Chips Float
Photos: David Dods

55. Getting Water to the Garden
Downspout Extensions

56. Creek Bed Creek Bed
Through
Sidewalk
Photos: Rusty Schmidt

57. Outlets
Make sure the water
overflows where you want it
to go during large storms
Protect against erosion if
water flows over a berm
Photos: David Dods

58. Finishing Touches
Make the Garden Look Deliberate
Inlet Splash
Blocks
Edging
Accents
Outlet
Photo: David Dods

59. Care & Maintenance
First Growing Season
• Limit standing
water while plants
are small
• Water during dry
periods
• Pull weeds
Photograph: Rusty Schmidt, Waterdrop Innovations

60. Example Garden Construction
Existing Garden Bed
Photos Courtesy of: Shawn Tracy

61. Overflow
(overland)
depression
berm
Photos: Shawn Tracy

62. Depression
(w/ compost) Berm (w/ erosion control blanket)
Photo: Shawn Tracy

63. Overflow
point
Depression
Berm
Photos: Shawn Tracy

64. Photos: Shawn Tracy

65. Questions ?
Photo: David Dods

66. David Dods’ Contact Information
Day Job: Environmental Engineer
URS Corp.
8300 College Blvd., Suite 200
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
david.dods@urs.com
913.344.1022
In my Spare Time: Co-author,
The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens
Published by Waterdrop Innovations
Available at
www.Terracehorticulturalbooks.com
www.Amazon.com
email: raingardens@yahoo.com
Photo: David Dods