Rain Gardens

[mjadams]

I'm currently doing some design and construction work for a guy that works with my dad. He had a huge drainage problem in his yard, and he brought me in to fix it. The thought that we could lay a perforated pipe in through his yard where water puddles, because he didn't think anything else could be done. I told him about rain gardens, and the fact that with a slight depression and the right plantings, we could solve his drainage problems without making the stormwater flow into sewers. He and his wife loved the idea, but they had never heard of a rain garden before. In my school we talk about rain gardens all the time and it seems like they are common knowledge, but no one where I live knows what they are. I was just wondering if anyone here has heard of them or knows anything about them.

 

[Randy]

I don't know anything about them myself, but there is a fellow that works for the City of Newberg that handles all the landscaping. He has designed and put in some amazing stuff for the city and I would venture that he would know something about your quest. I'll see if I can get some contact information for you.

 

[mjadams]

I already know a lot about them. I'm almost done building my first one and they have come up in just about every class I've taken. My questions was more along the lines of whether or not other people know anything about them. I'm just curious if any of the things they teach us in landscape architecture school are known by others outside the profession.

 

[Randy]

I see. I suspect so though because what I see Brian has done is something that I have never seen before. There is a covered area, not huge, that he has used plants for the roof and a catch basin for runoff and a small pump to cycle periodically to keep the plants hydrated.

 

[Crabbergirl]

MJ,
I think you should start a thread in the theme garden section on "Rain Gardens" . It has not come up that I am aware of. After all this site is about sharing tricks and tips and I am sure that there are many who would enjoy your input on the subject. While I have heard of rain gardens and there are forms of them in this area, I have not seen any that I really appreciated. I personally would love to see some before and after pictures of the area you have created. I think this is a very worthy topic.
Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[mjadams]

I actually just finished building one for one of my dad's coworkers. I took a lot of pictures during the whole process and I'm thinking about writing an article about how I did it and putting it on my blog. When I get it finished I'll definitely let you know.

 

[Crabbergirl]

Thanks Taht would be very helpful.

 

[mjadams]

I just finished my first post about rain gardens on the blog. The next posts are going to outline how I did it with pictures and instructions on how other people can build one of their own. Those next posts should be coming within a few days. I'd love any feedback.

http://landscapearchitecturestudent.blogspot.com/

 

[RonsGarden]

Well written MJ!
I'd like to see some of your ideas that would be practical for the average gardener to use on their properties regardless to the size of their properties!

 

[Crabbergirl]

That's great MJ. I can't wait to see the pictures. I live on the river and my concern is run off. I have a couple swales that would be perfect rain gardens.