RainGardensSustainable Solutions for Storm Water Runoff

The design of a rain garden emulates natural watersheds and wetlands.

A rain garden is a shallow basin that slows down, temporarily holds rainwater, allowing it to be. absorbed into the soil and by the plants

What is a rain garden?

Rain gardens can also be a solution to low areas

with moist soils

Surrounding terrain that drains into the rain garden

Surrounding terrain that

drains into the rain garden

Rain garden basin

BioswaleTransition zone of

the rain garden

What is a rain garden

Bioswale = alternately wet/dry zone

Surrounding terrain draining towards rain garden = driest zone

Transition zone surrounds the basin of rain garden = alternately wet/dry zone

Rain garden basin = this zone stays wet the longest, sometimes permanently

Overflow spillway is similar to the bioswale and directs flow towards traditional stormwater system

Examples of small residential size rain gardens

N.C. State University

Design Styles

Reconstructed wetlands…

Or…Conventional/traditional

style

The benefit of natural aesthetics and replaced habitat offers other opportunities for communities,

such as education and recreation

Design should include elements for interaction

Rain Gardens of any size will reduce the quantity and

velocity of storm water runoff.Any reduction is a benefit.

Water quality is improved as well

A Few Tips to Keep in Mind

*Size is approx. 20-30% of surface draining towards rain garden

*A rain garden should be no closer than 10 ft. from a building

*Basin should be 4-8” minimum

*Grade to ensure that water flows from the source to the rain garden and beyond to convention storm water

Surrounding terrain

Always maintain a clean edge to give a finished, ‘garden’ look

St. Phillips Church in Annapolis, MD

Olivette MO

Sturtevant, WI

Franklin, NH

Springfield, MO

Geauga County, Ohio

Rhode Island

Connecticut

10,000 rain gardens in KC, MO

www.capecodgroundwater.org

www.ci.liberty.mo.us

www.swtdesign.com

Bioswales …can be planted dry stream beds

Okeechobee County Cincinnati Zoo

Lincoln, NE

St. Charles Boathouse

Columbia, MO

Shaw Nature Reserve

Contrast foliar texture and plant form

Choose plants with

different bloom periods

Native Landscaping Manualis part of the

Native Plant School held at Shaw Nature Reserve

Great plant lists of Missouri native plants for rain gardens

www.shawnature.org