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  • 8/3/2019 Iowa; Rain Garden Brochure - Rainscaping Iowa

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    Rain gardens rely on naturalsoils that let water move into

    and through the soil below.

    Water captured in a raingarden should drain down in

    about 12 to 24 hours.

    A rain garden will usually be

    about 10% of the size of thearea that sheds runoff to the

    rain garden. Rain gardens

    generally pond water to adepth of about 6 inches.

    Avoid utilities when installinga rain garden. Make sure

    the bottom of the raingarden is level from side to

    side and end to end. Keep

    rain gardens at least 10feet away from buildings.

    Refer to the Iowa RainGarden Manual to design

    and install a rain garden.

    Download the manual fromwww.rainscapingiowa.org.

    Rain Gardens

    www.rainscapingiowa.org

    Beautify yards, parking lots, or street right-of-ways by installing rain gardens. Rain gardens featured on this page managerunoff from roads, rooftops and parking lots. They add beauty to the landscape and reduce runoff and protect water quality.

    1. Street runoff enters this rain garden through a curb cut. Streets generate most stormwater runoff in residential settings.2. Downspouts direct roof runoff to this rain garden featuring a decorative rock border.3. Bob Quinns rain garden manages roof runoff. Bob promotes rain gardens during his broadcasts on 1040 WHO radio.4. An existing landscaped bed is expanded by adding a rain garden in this yard to capture roof runoff.5. This rain garden was i nstalled at the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities where rain garden training is held.

    6. The City of Johnston installed this rain garden at city hall to manage runoff from the parking lot.

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    Roads, Roofs, Runoff and Rain Gardens

    Rainscaping Iowa promotes methods andpractices to create landscapes that protectand improve Iowas water quality.

    www.rainscapingiowa.org

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    polk-swcd.org iowastormwater.orgiowaagriculture.gov

    April 2010 IDALS-DSC and its close partner USDA are equal opportunity providers and employers.

    A rain garden is a landscaped depression that captures rain water runoff

    driveways, streets or compacted yards. Runoff captured in a rain gardenily ponded, before percolating down through the soil.

    Installing a rain garden helps restore a landscapes ability to manage wa

    sustainably. Historically, the prairies and savannas of Iowa held and inltrainfall. Surface runoff was rare. Rainfall w as absorbed and moved down

    soil to become groundwater ow. Cool, clean groundwater fed and mainstreams, wetlands and lakes.

    Today, our impervious and compacted urban surfaces shed dirty runoff w

    almost every rain. This dirty runoff goes to receiving streams which caus

    quality problems and contributes to ooding. Rain gardens help reduce rhelp protect water quality. They are an attractive landscape feature that p

    signicant environmental benets.

    Why Install a Rain Garden?

    What is a Rain Garden?

    Designing a Rain Garden

    A multi-tiered rain garden treatsfrom a house in Ames. Be creat

    planning rain gardens.

  • 8/3/2019 Iowa; Rain Garden Brochure - Rainscaping Iowa

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    Paul Miller installed a rain garden ain Johnston. A Landscape Architect

    and design the rain garden. The Mi

    a square layout for their garden, to the existing patio, pergola, and hou

    The square ag stones create an aborder. The diagonal edge softens

    layout and creates ow to the patio

    Paul did the installation himself. Hea wood frame to create a level s pr

    level edge for water to ow over wh

    occur. His rain garden is about 60 sin size to manage runoff from abou

    feet of roof. Runoff from about 90%will be captured and soak into the s

    redirected the downspout to convey

    into the rain garden.

    Laying out the rain garden. Rototilling to eliminate compaction. Framing the rain gar

    Checking the ponding depth. Mulched and ready for planting. Downspout directed

    Take time to plan your rain garden. Knowhow water moves on the landscape.Determine how much water will be directedtowards the rain garden.

    Be creative in coming up with a s hape andlayout. Make sure the rain garden will blend

    in and enhance the existing landscapingand buildings. Sketch out various renditions

    until a nal plan is selected that willbeautify the site and add value. Do this onyour own or hire a professional Rainscaper

    to help plan your rain garden project.

    Use the Iowa Rain Garden Manual to be

    sure the rain garden is sized and installed

    appropriately and will drain adequately. Arain garden that doesnt function will not be

    an amenity.

    With a good plan and design the next step

    is installation. If youre doing the installationbe sure to think through the process and

    have all the tools and materials needed.

    Installing a rain garden is a lot of work. Itis also a fun and gratifying project. H ire a

    professional Rainscaper to install the rain

    garden if youre not the do-it-yourself type.

    Find a Rainscaper on the RainscapingIowa website at www.rainscapingiowa.org.

    Planning and Designing Installing Your Rain Garden

    Begin by assessing the site. Know how water ows on your property.

    A birds eye view of the proposed rain garden.

    A rendition of the nished rain garden.

    Paul looks over his rain garden two months after installation.

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    Illustrations byDoug Adamson,

    RDG Planning and Design.