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Greening for the Greater GoodAn Educational Demonstration Rain

Garden from Start to Finish with thehelp of volunteers

By Sarah Meyer

FLI Community Outreach Coordinator

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Overview

• Lake-friendly Gardening – Watershed and Stormwater Management Intro

• Catching the Rain

 – Gardens and Barrels

• Benefits of Rain Gardens

• The How-To Steps

 – Rain garden site selection

 – The Dig – Plant Selection

 – Maintenance

•

Get Planting!!! May 30

th

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Think Like A Watershed

https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0510/5af416854e9cf/5af4168725d1b.jpg

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Stormwater Management

• Stormwater

 – Over and off;

rainstorm, snowmelt

• Stormwater Runoff  – Carries contaminants

to stream and lakes

 –

Pet waste, sediment,road salt, litter,

leaves, clippings,

Fertilizers, pesticideshttp://www.newburgh-ny.com/water/pix/UrbanWatershed.gif 

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ImperviousSurfaces

and Runoff 

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Lake-friendly Gardening

• French drains

• Swales

•

Buffers• Infiltrative surfaces

• Gutters and

Downspouts• Rain Barrels

http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/GWQ009.pdf 

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French Drains and Infiltrative Surfaces

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Gutters and Swales

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Benefits of Rain Gardens

•

Recharge local groundwater• Reduce mosquito breeding by removing

standing water

• Create a habitat for birds and butterflies

• Reduce the potential of home flooding

• Protect rivers and streams by filteringpollutants

 – Allows 30% more water to infiltrate

than a patch of grass of the same size

• Sustain adequate flows in streams during

dry spells

• Reduce the need for costly municipal

stormwater treatment structures.

• Reducing erosion of streambanks and

lakeshores.

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Catching the Rain

• Designed to soak

up rain water

 – Rooftops,

driveways, patios

• Slow filtration

 – Rather than runoff 

•Wildlife – Insects, birds

• Aesthetics

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Onondaga CCE Rain Catcher Program

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How To Steps

• Location

• Size, Depth, Slope, Soil Type

•

Design – Plant Selection, Bloom Time

• Construction

•

Maintenance

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/documents/rgmanual.pdf 

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Concept and Garden Template

• Design – 10 feet from house

 – Not over septic

 – Overflow outlet

 – Berm – Slope, shallow

• Size (100-300 sq. ft) – Drainage area

 –

Soil type (24 hourperk)

 – Garden depth

• Mark it Out

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Step 1: Mark It Out

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Choose native plants based on need

for light, soil, and moisture. Vary plant

structure, height, and color for

seasonal appeal and butterfly habitat.Typical depth is 4-8 inches

deep. This depth,

proportional to surface area,

helps assure water will

infiltrate and not pond.

Typical size is 5-10

times the size of the

impervious surface that

generates runoff.

A good soil amendment is 65% sand,

15% topsoil, and 25% compost.

Located at least 10 feet from

house and not over septic

system.

http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/news/brochures/raingarden.html

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What to Avoid

• Not appropriate where

seasonal water table is

within 24 inches of soil

surface• Not over a septic system

• Not be next to a building

foundation• Not more than 12% slope

• Not a solution to wet

areas

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Determine Depth and Size

• Depth is dependent on slope

 – If <4% then 3-5 inches deep

 – If 5-7% then 6-7 inches deep

 – If 8-12% then 8-12 inches deep

• Slope---Rise over Run8 inches x 100= 3% slope

240 inches

Recommended…. depth 3-5 inches

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Soil Type/Drainage

• Sand, silt, clay• Percolation Test

• Ribbon Test

• Cornell Cooperative

Extension Nutrient

Management

Laboratory – $15 per soil kit

 – Store bought $4; $20

for electric soil tester

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Determine Size of Rain Garden

• Special Delivery!!!! RAIN!

• The bigger the drainage area, the bigger the

garden

• Drainage area x size factor

• 500 square feet x .43 = 215 sq. ft.

Soil Type 3-5” deep 6-7” deep 8” deep

Sandy .19 .15 .08

Silty .34 .25 .16Clay .43 .32 .20

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The Dig

• Call Dig Safe NY to check forutilities (800) 962-7962

• Dig more on uphill side of garden

 – Use soil to build berm on downhillside

• Bottom

 – Level and flat

• Install overflow drain if necessary

• Let sit

• Our garden: ½ yard3 compost; 1yard3 sand mixed with clayey topsoil

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Plant Selection

• Native plants – Adapted; less water, less fertilizer,

more resistant

• Tolerate periodic flooding

• Sun vs. Shade requirements

• Variety of heights and bloomtime

•

Color and Texture• Hardy to climate of Central New

York

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Average Minimum

Temp. Range

Zone 5b

-15 to -10 F-23 to -26 C

Zone 6a-10 to -5 F

-21 to -23 C

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Write it Down!Name Height Spread Light Moisture Color Bloom

Christmas Fern 1 2 Shade/Part Sun, Shade Mod. Wet to Mod Dry Green April, May

Foamflower 1 2 Sun/Part Shade, Shade/Part Sun, Shade Mod. Wet to Mod Dry White

April, May, June

July

Blue Wood

Sedge 1.5 2 Sun/part shade

Mod. Wet to Mod. Dry, Dry to Occ.

Moist Green

Anise Hyssop 3 3 Sun, Sun/Part Shade

Mod. Wet to Mod. Dry, Dry to Occ.

Moist Purple July, Aug, Sept

Purple

Coneflower 3 2 Sun, Sun/Part Shade

Mod. Wet to Mod. Dry, Dry to Occ.

Moist Purple July, Aug, Sept

Wild Columbine 3 2 Sun/Part Shade, Shade/Part Sun, Shade

Mod. Wet to Mod. Dry, Dry to Occ.

Moist Red April, May

Scarlet Bee Balm 3 6 Sun/Part Shade, Shade/Part Sun, Shade

Mod. Wet to Mod. Dry, Dry to Occ.

Moist Red

June, July, Aug,

Sept

Northern Sea

Oats 4 3

Sun, Sun/Part Shade, Shade/Part Sun,

Shade

Mod. Wet to Mod. Dry, Dry to Occ.

Moist Green

Swamp

Milkweed 4 3 Sun, Sun/Part Shade Sat., Sat. to Moist Pink May, June

Joe-Pye Weed 4 3 Sun, Sun/Part Shade, Shade/Part Sun

Sat., Sat. to Moist, Mod. Wet to Mod.

Dry Pink

Hens and

Chickens

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Our Garden Plants

1. Christmas Fern2. Foamflower

3. Blue Wood Sedge

4. Anise Hyssop

5. Purple Coneflower

6. Wild Columbine

7. Scarlet Bee Balm

8. Northern Sea Oats9. Swamp Milkweed

10. Joe-Pye Weed

11. Hens and Chickens

1

2

11

5

9

6

3

8

4

7

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Draw It Up!!

AH: Anise Hyssop

SM: Swamp Milkweed

PC: Purple Coneflower

BWS: Blue Wood Sedge

NSO: Northern Sea

OatsJPW: Joe-Pye Weed

(sub)

Part Shade

FF: Foamflower

BB: Bee Balm

WC: Wild Columbine

Shade

CF: Christmas Fern

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Planting Prep

• Slow release fertilizers afterplanting

 – 20-10-5, P for root development

 –

In each hole• May need to amend soil

 – If acidic, add lime

 – If too clayey, replace soil; 50% sand,

20-30% organic matter, 20-30% topsoil

• Rake surface smooth and level

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Maintenance

• During 1st Year water regularly; weed

• Annually Inspect outlet pipes

•

Liquid fertilize perennials• 3” layer of mulch; Replenish

• Keep pie-pan, flat over time

 –

Carpenters level with string• Leave dead and dormant plants over winter

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Let’s Get Planting

• Special thanks to our volunteers on May 30, 2009!

• HWS Buildings and Grounds crew

 – David Iannicello

• Christine Moskell, Onondaga County CornellCooperative Extension

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Rain Garden Resources

• Rain Garden Manual A How-To Manual for homeowners

 – http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/documents/rg

manual.pdf 

• Rain Garden Templates

 –

http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/raingarden_design/index.htm• WNY Stormwater Coalition Rain Gardens How-To Guide

 – http://www.erie.gov/environment/pdfs/rain_garden_booklet.pdf 

• Clean Air Gardening Online Store

 – http://www.cleanairgardening.com/

• Rain Gardens: A household way to improve water quality in your

community

 – http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/pdf/home.gardens.pdf 

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• Rain Catchers Brochure

 – http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/Rain%20Catcher%20Brochu

re_finished2.pdf