Irrigation and Water Management By Katie Navarra
Let it S
tormwater runoff from heavy rainfall or melting snow carries pollutants such as soil, sediment and pesticides into natural wa- terways. Hard-surfaced areas such as roadways and driveways contribute to runoff because
these surfaces shed water quickly after a rain event rather than allowing the excess water to slowly seep into the soil. In recent years, local municipalities and
state governments have passed regulations requiring construction companies and landscape contractors to install products, or use design techniques, that minimize stormwater runoff on commercial and res- idential properties.
20 Landscape and Irrigation April 2012
Rain gardens are helping landscape companies manage stormwater runoff and meet increased regulations
Rain
Permeable pavers, drainage systems, re- tention ponds and other strategies are commonly used by landscape and con- struction companies to meet increasing regulations. A relatively new alternative is the installation of a rain garden. A well-designed rain garden is cost effi- cient and relies on natural resources (soil and native plants) to capture, filter and re- turn excess stormwater to aquifers, streams and rivers. Rain gardens combine environ-
mentally friendly functionality with color- ful, eye-catching appeal. Fundamentally, a rain garden functions
like a giant sponge, absorbing water runoff from any type of hard surface. The garden itself is a depression in the ground that av- erages 200 to 300 square feet with a depth of 4 to 8 inches. In some instances they can be as deep one to 2 feet. Native plants and grasses are planted inside the depres- sion.
A rain garden can provide an economical option for controlling stormwater runoff.
www.landscapeirrigation.com
Photos provided by Katie Navarra
