Interested in planting a rain garden on your property? Here are some helpful tips!
1. Evaluate the area. How much sun does it get? How much water will run into the area?
2. Design your garden. Plan to use native plants that can handle wet AND dry soils. Call Dig Safe to mark underground lines, and call us for plant suggestions.
3. Dig out the bottom. Remove about 3-6 inches of dirt on the downhill side to create a shallow saucer. Berm the edges, leaving the upland edge gradually sloped to direct runoff into the garden.
4. Mulch. Spread mulch to cover the newly-exposed ground. This will help suppress weeds and hold moisture.
5. Water! It may sound odd, but once you’ve planted the garden, make sure to water it well. In the first year, you’ll need to water during any dry spells.
Want more information? Check out our How to Build a Rain Garden brochure.
