Step-By-Step Guide: Large Rain Gardens
For community greenspaces, schools, business parks, churches, and other facilities with large drainage areas.
- Choose a Location
- In this case, the rain garden is in a community greenspace, 30 feet in front of a concrete culvert, which drains the parking lot above.
- Remove the Sod
- The sod can be used elsewhere on your property.
- Remove Excess Soil
- Since there is so much excess soil to remove, most of the soil will have to be hauled off to a disposal facility. A small fraction of the excess soil will be used to create the berm.
- Create a Berm
- Soil should be bermed on the lowerside of the rain garden to stop water from exiting the garden and allowing the water to soak into the soil.
- Add Soil Amendments
- The amount of amendments will depend on the size of your garden. When finished adding sand, compost, and/or manure, there should be a distance of approximately 5-6 inches from the surface of the surrounding land. This space allows for 2-3 inches of mulch and extra water holding capacity.
- Till in Soil Amendments
- Spot the Plants
- Before digging and planting, place the plants in the location you want them to be.
- Plant
- Finish
- Cover with a 2-3 inch layer of shredded hardwood mulch.
*Note: The plants in this garden were planted after they had gone dormant for the season.
