Landscape Design
How to Design Your Landscape to Slow Down Water
Putting the brakes on stormwater runoff is the first step in sustainable water design
Traditionally, the practice for managing rainfall in landscapes has been to move it out as quickly and efficiently as possible. Though it moves the water quickly out of our yards, that approach has negatively affected our water quality by creating more flooding downstream and eliminating the natural cleansing process that happens when water passes through soil.
“Slow it, spread it, sink it” is the sustainable-water-design mantra coined by Brock Dolman, cofounder and program director at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center in California. This mantra is used by municipalities and water conservation groups to spread knowledge of sustainable water practices. In this series we will define what each of those steps means and how you can design your landscape accordingly, starting with the first step: slow it.
“Slow it, spread it, sink it” is the sustainable-water-design mantra coined by Brock Dolman, cofounder and program director at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center in California. This mantra is used by municipalities and water conservation groups to spread knowledge of sustainable water practices. In this series we will define what each of those steps means and how you can design your landscape accordingly, starting with the first step: slow it.
Rooftop
Store water from your downspouts. Collecting roof runoff in a rain barrel or cistern for later use takes a significant volume of water out of the runoff equation and also reduces your dependence on municipal water. During times of low rainfall or drought, you’ll have access to free rainwater for irrigation.
6 Reasons Why You Should Save Your Rainwater Now
Store water from your downspouts. Collecting roof runoff in a rain barrel or cistern for later use takes a significant volume of water out of the runoff equation and also reduces your dependence on municipal water. During times of low rainfall or drought, you’ll have access to free rainwater for irrigation.
6 Reasons Why You Should Save Your Rainwater Now
Intercept runoff with a green roof. Green roofs have many environmental benefits; their ability to intercept and soak up water during small, frequent rainstorms is one of the best. A shallow green roof can absorb an inch of rain and release it back into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration, which lessens the stormwater runoff load on downstream water bodies.
Additionally, green roofs help initially cleanse water during larger storms. The runoff that flows from a green roof is cleaner than the runoff from an impervious roof surface.
4 Ways Green Roofs Help Manage Stormwater
Additionally, green roofs help initially cleanse water during larger storms. The runoff that flows from a green roof is cleaner than the runoff from an impervious roof surface.
4 Ways Green Roofs Help Manage Stormwater
Driveway
Use permeable paving. Permeable paving on driveways and large patios gives water the chance to percolate into the soil, while also adding visual interest to the landscape. Water moves slowly through the soil, cleaning as it percolates through, before returning to the aquifer.
Though permeable paving does not absorb 100 percent of water received during heavy storms, it does help slow down excess runoff through surface friction, which provides some aeration and the gives water more opportunity to percolate into the soil.
This driveway features grass-planted concrete pavers that are designed to handle cars, while water drains through each paver’s center.
Use permeable paving. Permeable paving on driveways and large patios gives water the chance to percolate into the soil, while also adding visual interest to the landscape. Water moves slowly through the soil, cleaning as it percolates through, before returning to the aquifer.
Though permeable paving does not absorb 100 percent of water received during heavy storms, it does help slow down excess runoff through surface friction, which provides some aeration and the gives water more opportunity to percolate into the soil.
This driveway features grass-planted concrete pavers that are designed to handle cars, while water drains through each paver’s center.
Sloped Site
Move water with a swale. Swales are a cost-effective way to manage stormwater in your landscape, as opposed to installing pipes and subdrainage. They also make the movement of water visible, which can create a defining aspect to the landscape design.
A swale that’s curvy and bumpy will provide maximum benefit for slowing down water. The curves create a meandering path for the flow of water, and rocks and plants break up the surface to aerate the water as it moves.
Move water with a swale. Swales are a cost-effective way to manage stormwater in your landscape, as opposed to installing pipes and subdrainage. They also make the movement of water visible, which can create a defining aspect to the landscape design.
A swale that’s curvy and bumpy will provide maximum benefit for slowing down water. The curves create a meandering path for the flow of water, and rocks and plants break up the surface to aerate the water as it moves.
Plant steep slopes. Plant slopes with herbaceous and woody plants to slow down quickly running water. This does several good things: It reduces the likelihood of erosion, stabilizes the slope and slows water down significantly more than a slope planted with a mowed lawn.
How to Design a Great Garden on a Sloped Lot
How to Design a Great Garden on a Sloped Lot
Plant rocky surfaces. Similar to asphalt and concrete, even naturally occurring rocky surfaces will quickly shed water. The rock outcropping shown here is also part of a steep slope, which means water whisks right off it. You can plant rocky slopes with alpine species that thrive in low soil volumes. Even a small pocket of soil is enough to carefully establish plants that will spread among a rocky surface. Over time, those plants can spread within the rock crevices to break up the surface and slow water runoff.
This rain garden at the edge of a permeable driveway catches additional runoff during heavy storms.
Next: How to spread water runoff so that it can percolate into the soil
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How to Move Water Through Your Landscape
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Next: How to spread water runoff so that it can percolate into the soil
More on Houzz
How to Move Water Through Your Landscape
See more guides to saving water at home
Find a landscape architect in your area
Shop for outdoor products
First, identify where water runoff happens in your yard. Any hard surface, such as roof shingles, asphalt, concrete or rocky outcroppings, will shed water quickly; roofs, driveways and steep slopes are likely culprits. Work with a landscape designer to determine how you can intercept water at those locations, and slow it down through storage, permeable surfaces, swales and plantings.
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