A rain garden can be a beautiful way to protect the environment by collecting the water from gutters and downspouts around your home instead of letting the water runoff into the sewers. Acting as a natural sponge, a well-thought-out rain garden can naturally filter the water and help you grow native plants. Here are some tips for creating an effective rain garden next to your house.
- Choose the Right Location
When it comes to adding interesting architecture Rock Hill SC elements around your home, a rain garden can play a major part in increasing the aesthetic. You want to choose an area that isn’t overly soggy, is at least 10 feet from the house and is 50 feet away from septic systems or steep slopes.
- Pick a Variety of Native Plants
Rain gardens are typically built with three zones. You will need plants that can handle wet roots in the center where the water doesn’t drain as easily. In a ring around that, you’ll want plants that do well in standing water. The outer ring should be filled with drought-tolerant native species.
- Prepare the Land
First, determine the size and shape of your garden. You will need to remove the grass and excavate the area to create a basin.
- Install an Inlet Pipe
The inlet pipe will run from your gutter downspouts to the rain garden through a trench that you dig. You can use rigid or corrugated tubing. Line the trench with stones to prevent erosion and cover the pipes with more stones to hide the piping.
- Plant and Mulch
Fill the basin with a healthy mix of soil and plant your items in their correct areas. Cover the plants with mulch to prevent weeds and increase moisture in the soil.
Enjoy a gorgeous flowering arrangement of plants while supporting the environment when you build a rain garden into your landscape today.