Catch the RAIN with a rain garden!
We’ve installed our first rain garden as part of Catch the RAIN with a homeowner in Dundas. Each rain garden that has been designed by our RAIN Coach is a different shape and size because it is meant to work with the landscape. During the RAIN Coach visit this homeowner expressed interest in naturalizing their front yard and having overflow from their rain barrel go into a rain garden. We built a rock swale inlet for the rain barrel overflow so runoff from the roof enters the rain barrel and overflows into the rock swale and finally enters the rain garden. Combining these three methods allows the property to slow down the rain, soak it up and keep it clean!
To create the rain garden, we marked the shape of the garden and removed the sod with a sod cutter. The sod strips were turned upside-down and placed along the edge of the garden to create the berm. A gradual bowl was created, with the center being the deepest part of the garden. To help the plants establish we added compost and then strategically placed the native plants according to heights, seasonal bloom time and their growing conditions – moist to dry. We put the plants in the ground and finished off the garden with a generous layer of shredded pine mulch. This rain garden is a great example of how to use rain as a resource on your property and increase biodiversity in your neighbourhood.
To learn more about managing your stormwater, visit https://greenventure.ca/rain-water-programs/
Thanks to our program funders and partners: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Sustain Our Great Lakes, City of Hamilton City Enrichment Fund amd Green Communities Canada.
