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Great Lakes Gardening

Rain garden site

7 years ago

We originally re-routed the downspout to divert rainwater to an existing bed. We plan on expanding this area for a new rain garden and to help irrigate the blue spruce as well. R. Harrison

Featured Answer

Susan Bryan

7 years ago

Sounds like a plan! Love your garden and pond. Very pretty. :)

When you see our examples, often the berm on the lower side of the rain garden is on the edge of the garden. Yours, since you are adding onto an existing garden might be in the middle of the bed. That is ok.

Love that you are incorporating this into your existing landscape so seamlessly!

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Comments (7)

PRO
RW Harrison
Original Author
7 years ago
Staying with the same site, but now more of aware of potential "root" issues and avoiding standing water next to the fence. R.Harrison
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Hi! My name is Catie and I work with Susan in the Rain Garden Assistance Program. I'm a Master Rain Gardener as well. This spot, closer to your (very cute!) house looks like a more manageable spot! Will you be removing the stones to place the rain garden? Make sure that your rain garden site is at least 10' away from your house. It looks like a sunny spot- I bet baptisia would look beautiful! If you are trying to get more shade around your home you could plant a tree or two as well. Redbud and Sycamore do well in rain gardens.
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OooOOo! An opportunity to use a sledgehammer! Or a jackhammer! Fun times! I think your idea is a good one. It appears that the slope down to the street is a bit steep - it could just be the photo, hard to tell. If so, keep in mind that you will be in berm-building territory, or a small rock wall, or something else. Could be very decorative! Love that you are solving a problem with this rain garden. :)
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The picture of the downspouts (2) refused to upload next to the other picture. I have about a 50 ft trench to dig, but the ground is soft with sand and peat so no big deal. Ditto with the basin dig, mostly sand. The lake shore is weedy with grasses and other plants I can't identify. One smells like mint and looks like its prone to spread. We bought this house last fall and are trying to clean up the black muck by the shore line. What other plants can I use to help clean this shallow part of the lake? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments (2)
Hi Stephanie. Great! That seems ok. You are right on the cusp of loam/clay. So think about that when you pick plants - select those that like it a bit wetter than typical. But in general, this should work great. You are not on the "extreme edge" of the percolation rate, so all should be well.
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Susan Bryan
7 years ago
Sounds good. What are your plant ideas? Something tall, to go in front of those blue spruces? My first thought is Coriopsis tripteris, Tall Coriopsis. What are your ideas?
PRO
RW Harrison
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your reply, I listed rudbeckias, yellow coneflowers and possibly milkweed on my plan. Coreopsis would look good in there as well. We have some Anemone in the bed due west of the site.
PRO
RW Harrison
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Rain Garden site plan. · More Info

Here's a better angle of a RG we completed several years ago. The supply is the downspout on the left. During heavy events, excess rainwater is directed to the beds on the other side of the walking path. It has effectively eliminated the periodic flooding in the workshop in the background of this image. Thanks again.
PRO
RW Harrison
Original Author
7 years ago
Were you guys involved in the planning/design/construction at this site at the U of M Botanical Gardens? We watched a passing rain shower move thru and this site handled the runoff extremely well.
Susan Bryan
7 years ago
Nope - but my professor at UofM was. Bob Grese is the director there, and taught me all I know, many years ago. :)

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