Assignment 2: Find The Right Location
Find the Right Location
1. Observe the flow of water from rooftops, driveways, or other hard surfaces and place the rain garden where the water collects.
2. Select an area on marginally sloping or flat land.
3. Calculate the slope of your lawn (continued below).
4. Pick a spot that has full to partial sun if possible.
5. Place the rain garden at least 10’ away from a building/housing structure.
6. Call 811 or 1-800-522-6543 for OKIE811, the Oklahoma Company for damage prevention information before you dig.
Calculate the slope of your lawn (Slope > 10%)
1. Hit one stake in the ground at the higher elevation end of your rain garden site and hit another stake in the ground at the lower elevation end. The stakes should be about 10’ apart.
2. Tie …show more content…
When soil is saturated (completely full and wet), dig a hole 6” in diameter and no more than 12” deep in the area you’d like to put the rain garden.
2. Insert a ruler and fill the hole with water up to the 6” mark.
3. Using a watch/timer, time how long it takes the water to be absorbed into the ground. The water should be absorbed with 24 hours, if not the site is not suitable for a rain garden.
Calculate the Size and Shape of the Garden
1. Locate the roof area or other water-resistant surfaces that will contribute runoff to your rain garden.
2. Use a tape measure to measure the area you are interested in.
3. Once you have estimated the length and width, multiply the two measurements to get the area of the water-resistant surface in square feet.
4. Divide this area by 6. This calculation tells you how large the rain garden should be to hold 1” of runoff in a rain garden that is 6” deep.
Rain Garden Construction
1. If the yard is fairly flat, dig out the garden to a depth of 6”.
2. If the yard is on a gentle slope, you may need to dig out soil from the higher elevation area to construct a small berm (mound of compacted soil) at the lower elevation side of the …show more content…
Maintain a depth of 6” throughout the bottom of the rain garden. A string level can help you maintain this.
4. Slope or angle the sides of the rain garden using a shovel.
5. Level (flatten) the top level of the basin.
6. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the rain garden to a depth of 3”.
7. Cover the loosened soil with compost so the soil is ready for planting.
8. If water flows quickly into the rain garden, you will need to construct a “splash pad” to guide the water to the rain garden.
9. Splash pads are typically constructed with rock and extend 2 to 3’ from the point of entry. 1 to 2” gravel or river rock is often a sufficient size for splash pads.
Plant Selection and
1. Observe the flow of water from rooftops, driveways, or other hard surfaces and place the rain garden where the water collects.
2. Select an area on marginally sloping or flat land.
3. Calculate the slope of your lawn (continued below).
4. Pick a spot that has full to partial sun if possible.
5. Place the rain garden at least 10’ away from a building/housing structure.
6. Call 811 or 1-800-522-6543 for OKIE811, the Oklahoma Company for damage prevention information before you dig.
Calculate the slope of your lawn (Slope > 10%)
1. Hit one stake in the ground at the higher elevation end of your rain garden site and hit another stake in the ground at the lower elevation end. The stakes should be about 10’ apart.
2. Tie …show more content…
When soil is saturated (completely full and wet), dig a hole 6” in diameter and no more than 12” deep in the area you’d like to put the rain garden.
2. Insert a ruler and fill the hole with water up to the 6” mark.
3. Using a watch/timer, time how long it takes the water to be absorbed into the ground. The water should be absorbed with 24 hours, if not the site is not suitable for a rain garden.
Calculate the Size and Shape of the Garden
1. Locate the roof area or other water-resistant surfaces that will contribute runoff to your rain garden.
2. Use a tape measure to measure the area you are interested in.
3. Once you have estimated the length and width, multiply the two measurements to get the area of the water-resistant surface in square feet.
4. Divide this area by 6. This calculation tells you how large the rain garden should be to hold 1” of runoff in a rain garden that is 6” deep.
Rain Garden Construction
1. If the yard is fairly flat, dig out the garden to a depth of 6”.
2. If the yard is on a gentle slope, you may need to dig out soil from the higher elevation area to construct a small berm (mound of compacted soil) at the lower elevation side of the …show more content…
Maintain a depth of 6” throughout the bottom of the rain garden. A string level can help you maintain this.
4. Slope or angle the sides of the rain garden using a shovel.
5. Level (flatten) the top level of the basin.
6. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the rain garden to a depth of 3”.
7. Cover the loosened soil with compost so the soil is ready for planting.
8. If water flows quickly into the rain garden, you will need to construct a “splash pad” to guide the water to the rain garden.
9. Splash pads are typically constructed with rock and extend 2 to 3’ from the point of entry. 1 to 2” gravel or river rock is often a sufficient size for splash pads.
Plant Selection and