What is the difference between a bioswale and a rain garden?
What is the difference between a bioswale and a rain garden?
Although they sound similar, bioswales are designed to slow down rainwater through a curving or linear path, while rain gardens are designed to capture, store, and infiltrate rainwater in a bowl shape.
What are the benefits of rain gardens?
Rain gardens perform the following functions: filter stormwater runoff before it enters local waterways, alleviates problems associated with flooding and drainage, recharges the ground water supply, provides habitat and food for wildlife, including birds and butterflies, and enhances the beauty of yards and the …
What is Arain garden?
A rain garden is a feature that replaces an area of your lawn to collect stormwater (rain and melted snow) that runs off the roof, yards, and hard surfaces such as driveways. The depression is shallow and has loose, deep soil that absorbs and filters runoff preventing it from entering storm drains and waterways.
How deep is a rain garden?
between four and eight inches deep
A typical rain garden is between four and eight inches deep. A rain garden more than eight inches deep might pond water too long, look like a hole in the ground, and present a tripping hazard for somebody stepping into it.
What are the disadvantages of a rain garden?
DISADVANTAGES OF RAIN GARDENS If your rain garden is not functioning properly, you may have issues with drainage. Rainwater runoff will accumulate in the basin, which can lead to backups and flooding. An improperly designed basin can also lead to increased erosion rates.
How do you take care of a rain garden?
Key Maintenance Tips
- Water regularly to promote plant growth especially during the first two years and dry spells.
- Inspect site following rainfall events.
- Prune and weed to maintain appearance.
- Replace mulch as needed.
- Soil fertilization is unnecessary as rain gardens are designed to absorb excess nutrients.
How do you build a rain garden?
Create the rain garden by building a berm in a low spot in the yard, then build swales to channel runoff from the gutters and higher parts of the yard. The water is then absorbed into the soil through the network of deep plant roots. Use a mix of plants adapted to your area and to the different water depths.
What is the purpose of a Bioswale?
Bioswales are vegetated, shallow, landscaped depressions designed to capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff as it moves downstream.
How deep should a rain garden be in clay soil?
6 inches
Clay soils absorb water more slowly than sandy soils. To avoid drowning plants in clay soils, the garden depth should not exceed 6 inches. Heavy clay soils can be amended with compost to speed drainage. Rain gardens located in more sandy soils can be up to 8 to 12 inches deep.
Can you put rocks in a rain garden?
Add large decorative rocks at the garden’s entrance to prevent heavy rain from washing out young plants. Water your new garden about an inch per week during dry spells. If you select native species, you’ll find that these plants will be highly tolerant of dry conditions once they mature.
Who is Nigel Dunnett and what does he do?
Nigel Dunnett is Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield, and is one of the world’s leading voices on innovative approaches to planting design. He is a plantsman, designer and pioneer of the new ecological approach to planting gardens and public spaces.
Why a rain garden in John Lewis Park?
This lack of green, combined with the flood-prone nature of Victoria, made the John Lewis site the prime choice for the creation of a new rain garden.
What makes the rain garden so special?
The main area of the rain garden is planted with a naturalistic mix of grasses and perennials to deliver a low-maintenance, beautiful and long-season visual effect. Promoting biodiversity is a key objective, and there is a wealth of flowering plants to support pollinating insects in this predominantly ‘grey’ part of the city.
Where are the best rain gardens in central London?
The John Lewis rain garden is Central London’s first street-side rain garden. It is located on Victoria Street, at the head offices of the John Lewis Group, just around the corner from Victoria Station.
