RA RAIN IN GA GARD RDENS ENS: : BE BEAUTIFUL UTIFUL YAR ARDS - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

D E P A R T M E N T O F T H E E N V I R O N M E N T

Deborah Weller Sustainability Division June 24, 2017

RA RAIN IN GA GARD RDENS ENS: : BE BEAUTIFUL UTIFUL YAR ARDS DS

Outline

• Introduction: What is a Rain Garden?
• Rain Check Rebate: Helping you beautify your

yard.

• Why install a rain garden?
• What you need to know to install a rain garden?

– Siting – Sizing – Plants – Installation – Care

http://natsci.edgewood.edu/wingra/management/raingardens/

Can You Build Your Own Rain Garden? What Questions Should I Ask a Contractor

• r Landscaper?

How Do I Get That Rain Check Rebate? Do I Have a Site For a Rain Garden?

What is a Rain Garden?

Images courtesy Rasma Plato

“Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect”

Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate Program

Gives property

• wners rebates for

installing stormwater management practices

Eligible Practices

Urban Tree Canopy Rain Barrel Cistern Rain Garden Permeable Pavement Green Roof Pavement Removal

Rebate Amounts

Applicant Eligibility

 Homeowners  Members of a housing cooperative  Commercial businesses  Multi-family dwellings  Nonprofit organizations  Not-for-profit organizations

Maximum Rebate Per Property

 $4,000 maximum residential rebate  $20,000 maximum rebate for commercial

properties and multi-family dwellings

 Rebate amount

cannot exceed the cost of the project

Project Eligibility

The project is located within Prince George’s County The project is completed within 12 months

• f application approval

The Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) conducts pre- and post-installation site visits and finds the project in compliance with the approved application* The project follows the program guidelines

* Rain barrels do not require pre-inspection

How to Get Your Rebate

1

a) Determine what practices are suitable for your property

2

a) Fill out and submit the application to CBT b) Schedule a pre-installation site visit for all practices except rain barrels

3

a) Install the practice within 12 months of approval b) Schedule a post-installation site visit

4

a) Submit receipts to CBT b) Receive rebate check

Visit us online at http://www.cbtrust.org/princegeorgesraincheck

Rain Check Rebate Rain Garden Requirements

 Rain garden must be at least 100 square ft.  Must treat runoff from impervious area.  Water must be able to seep into the soil quickly enough so that it will drain in 24 to 36 hours.  At least 25 ft. away from a septic field or a well head.  Can’t impede neighbor’s flow or

discharge onto their property.

 At least 10 ft. away from your home and your neighbors’ homes.  Native plants only!

What Kinds of Permits Are Required?

 A permit is not required for most rain gardens.

 If installation exceeds 5,000 square feet and/or 100 cubic

yards of earth-moving disturbance, or a change in grade of +/- 12” a permit is required.

 Contact the County’s Department of Permits, Inspection and

Enforcement for more information: (301) 636-2000 or www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/dpie/Pages/default .aspx.

14

Rain Barrels

Containers used to collect rainwater from your roof and store it for later use (e.g.,

watering your lawn and garden)

Rain barrels reduce stormwater runoff, allowing more of the water to soak into the ground, replenishing groundwater

Source: Katie Elzer-Peters

Residential Rebate Amount:

$2 per gallon storied (must capture 50 gallons)

Non-residential Rebate Amount: $2 per gallon storied

(must capture 100 gallons)

https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/clean-water/green-infrastructure/rain-barrel-garden/

Questions?

Rain Check Rebate: Contact Hannah Martin at 410-974-2941 ext.114

• r rebate@cbtrust.org
• r go to

https://cbtrust.org/prince-georges-county-rain-check-rebate/

For more information and to apply:

Deborah Weller Sustainability Division June 24, 2017

RA RAIN IN GA GARD RDENS ENS: : BE BEAUT UTIFUL IFUL YARDS RDS

 Improve water quality  Increases infiltration of rainwater  Beautifies your yard and community  Reduces erosion and ponding problems  Reduces Clean Water Fee  May increase property values

Why Install a Rain Garden?

Increase bird/butterfly habitat

Beauty and function

Inflow entrance Ponding area Overflow path

Soil, mulch and plants

What Are the Parts of a Rain Garden?

How Can You Determine if Your Property Is Suitable for a Rain Garden?

Where are the pervious and impervious areas on the property and how does the water flow? How well does water soak into the different areas

• f the property?

What kind of soil is present? Is there a gently sloping place that regularly receives runoff?

How Can You Determine if Your Property Is Suitable for a Rain Garden?

 Can the rain garden be placed to avoid locating under a large tree because the roots will make it difficult to dig?  What level of maintenance is required?  How does it fit with your abilities?  Can your rain garden be located in full or partial sun?  Where are your utilities?

Impervious surfaces: roofs, sidewalks, patios, driveway, clay lawn turf Where are the downspouts? Identify natural water path through the yard

Where to Put a Rain Garden?

Where are the pervious and impervious areas on the property and how does the water flow?

Where to Put a Rain Garden?

downspout rain garden >10’ from building full or partial sun >25’ from septic field

Where to Put a Rain Garden?

Natural depressions and flat land Easy viewing from inside Fitting into the rest of the landscape Proximity to trees, utilities, septic system, foundation and well head.

X X X X

Before You Toil, Know Your Soil Does Your Soil Infiltrate?

Infiltration Rate: How fast water soaks into, or infiltrates, the ground To figure out how deep your rain garden should be, consider the infiltration rate: Standard Infiltration Rate

• f Soils:

Clays: .15 inches/hour Silts or Loams: .5 inches/hour Sands: 1 inch/hour

What kind of soil is present?

http://nemo.uconn.edu/raingardens/sizing.htm#check

 Dig a hole 1 foot wide and 2 feet deep  Fill hole with water  If water drains out of the hole in 6 hours, the site is suitable for a rain garden  If water does drains in less than 24 hours, soil should be suitable.  To be sure, refill the hole with water within 12 hours and make sure that it takes no longer than 36 hours to drain.

Infiltration Rate: Quick Percolation Test

Infiltration Rate: Percolation Test

 Dig a hole 1 foot wide and 2 feet deep  Fill hole with water and allow to drain  Fill with water, measure and record time  Wait an hour  Measure and record the time  Calculate the infiltration rate (inches/hours)

Sand Silt Clay

High infiltration rate 1 inch/hour Moderate infiltration rate .5 inches/hour Low infiltration rate .15 inches/hour

Ideal Soils

Ideal rain garden soil mix – 50-60% sand, 20-30% topsoil, 20-30% compost No more than 10% of mix should be clay Be careful of the nutrient content of composts Lower nutrient concentrations are better for the rain garden soil

Is There a Gently Sloping Place That Regularly Receives Runoff?

run rise

Slope = (rise/run) x 100

http://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/articles/Rain_Gardens_Across_MD.pdf

12%

X

Is there a gently sloping place that regularly receives runoff?

Figure out the size of the area that will have runoff going to the rain garden For a house, draw a footprint Break whole roof into areas going to each gutter Figure areas for each gutter

length width

What Size Garden Do I Need?

What Size Garden Do I Need?

Drainage area of downspout:

Top roof area: 150 sq.ft. Bottom roof area: 350 sq. ft.

Total Drainage Area: 500 sq. ft. Drainage Area: Area of impervious surfaces draining to a specific point

The surface area of your rain garden should be between 20% and 30% of the roof area (or other hard surface) that will drain into the rain garden.

Rain Garden Size

Sandy soil – 20% 500 sq. ft * .20 = 100 sq. ft Silt soils = 30% 500 sq. ft * .30 = 150 sq. ft

Garden Calculators

http://raingardenalliance.org/right/calculator

Layout of a Rain Garden

 Rain gardens are highly versatile and can be constructed in a wide variety

• f shapes and sizes.

 The shape of the rain garden

• ften is determined by

existing features such as the need to avoid structures, trees, and utilities.  Rain gardens can be shaped to fit available space and site conditions.

Developing a Planting Plan

Berme: Drought- tolerant plants.

Tolerate wet roots

Tolerate some dryness

Salt tolerance Height and width of full grown plants Color and type of seeds, berries, flowers, or other growth Species of wildlife you wish to attract Coordination with existing landscape Mix trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses and turfgrasses

Pick Your Plants?

Pick Your Plants?

The best plants for rain gardens are native plants. Native plants: – Are adapted to the local environment, – Do not need extra water or fertilizer once they are established, – Provide food and habitat for wildlife, and – Are attractive to pollinators – Tend to have deep root systems that help hold the soil The Rain Check Rebate Program requires the use of native species in rain gardens.

http://lowimpactdevelopment.org/rain-garden-templates-for- maryland/

Full Sun Rain Garden

Full Sun Rain Garden

Partial Shade Rain Garden

Partial Shade Rain Garden

Trees and Shrubs for Rain Gardens

Red Maple River Birch Red Chokeberry Inkberry

Herbaceous Plants for Rain Gardens

Asters Lobelia Cardinal Flower Blackeyed Susan Goldenrod Joe Pye Weed White Turtlehead

Inflow entrance Overflow path

How Do You Get Water In and Out?

Installing the Rain Garden

• Layout edge of rain garden with rope or garden hose
• Install string from uphill to downhill borders. Level it.
• Before you dig, call Ms. Utility

How to Install Your Rain Garden?

Installing the Rain Garden

• Strip away any lawn by slicing
• ff the roots with a sharp spade

directed at as low an angle as you can manage

• Set aside the top 4-6 inches of

soil (topsoil), excavate the hole then use the top soil to backfill the planting area.

• Move the soil in the rain garden

area down to the bottom edge of the rain garden

Designing a Rain Garden: Structural Design

 Bottom of the rain garden should be level and flat  Top of berm should be about the same elevation as the uphill edge of the rain garden  Create overflow outlet for large storms  Grade garden bed; slope up to the edges  Side slopes 3:1  Inlet and outlet

Source: RainScapes: Montgomery County

Source: http://nemo.uconn.edu/raingardens/installation.htm

Maintaining Your Rain Garden

Until established, weed regularly and water when dry

– Herbaceous plants: one year – Shrubs and trees: two to three years

Routine periodic landscaping maintenance

– Weeding – Pruning – Replacing plants – Plant Division – Replacement of mulch

Maintenance

Check water flow during heavy rainfalls Check for standing water 24 to 48 hours later Repair overflow and berme, when needed.

Questions to Ask a Contractor?

 How much experience do you have installing a rain garden?  Can you provide a description of projects?  Are you insured, bonded, certified, or trained for accurately

sizing and properly constructing by a local jurisdiction, university, or state cooperative extension service?

 Be able to explain what is included in you services, how long

it should take to complete the project, and whether their work would be guaranteed.

 What type of equipment will be needed, whether any

subcontractors will be used, how long the project should take and whether the work will be guaranteed.

 What large and heavy machinery would be used and, if so,

whether noise will be kept to a minimum and in compliance with local laws and regulations.

Planning Your Rain Garden

• Location
• Size
• Plant Mix

http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/app/raingarden.htm

References

• Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation

Landscaping Chesapeake Bay Watershed: https://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/

• Rain Gardens Across Maryland:

http://www.mdcoastalbays.org/files/pdfs_pdf/rain_gar dens.pdf

• University of Maryland Extension:

https://extension.umd.edu/watershed/rain-gardens

• Create a Rain Garden:

https://www.bluewaterbaltimore.org/protect/create-a- rain-garden/

• Rain Check Rebate Rain Garden Guidelines:

http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCen ter/View/180

Questions?

Deborah Weller 301-883-7161

• r go to

DMWeller1@co.pg.md.us

Baptisia australis Blue False Indigo