Wetland Wetlands filter excess pesticides and nutrients. Many plants and animals find a home in wetlands.

In your backyard you easily can turn it into a wetland What is a wetland? paradise. Even if you do not have a A mini-wetland in your yard can pro- naturally wet spot, you can establish A wetland is simply any area where vide many of the same benefits that an area in your yard to grow many of water covers the soil or keeps it natural wetlands offer. A mini-wet- the beautiful plants associated with saturated for at least two or three land can replace the important nat- wetlands. weeks during the growing season. ural functions of wetlands that may You will usually find them anywhere have been lost when your communi- ty was developed.

A wetland in your backyard will temporarily store, filter, and clean runoff water from your roof and lawn. It will provide habitat for many interesting creatures--from butterflies and bees to salamanders, toads, frogs, and birds.

Most wetland plants do not require standing water to grow successfully, and will survive even in an area that appears dry during most of the growing season.

If you have a naturally occurring wet spot in your yard, or a low swale or drainageway with heavy clay soils,

Even if you do not have a naturally wet spot, you can establish an area in your yard to grow many of the beautiful plants associated with wetlands.

Backyard Conservation is a cooperative project of: USDA Natural Resources The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to Conservation Service all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, National Association of audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250- Conservation Districts 9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Wildlife Habitat Council April 1998 One in a series of 10 tip sheets on backyard conservation BACKYARD Wetland

water accumulates at a rate faster drain slowly may also be suitable. an existing wet area, or it may than it drains away. Some are inun- Better drained sites may require use require the same effort needed to dated year-round while others only of a plastic or other type of liner. Of install a backyard pond. hold water for brief periods in the course, if you are building a back- spring. Most wetlands are covered yard pond, as discussed in another Building a wetland with water for less than a month tip sheet in this series, a shallow area in an existing wet during the summer.Wetlands domi- of saturated soil can be incorporated area or drainage- nated by grasses, cattails, and similar in the design.When selecting a site, way herbaceous vegetation are referred consider: If the area is naturally wet during to as marshes, while wooded wet- • Is the site away from your founda- parts of the year, no mowing during lands, dominated by shrubs and tion, out buildings, existing land- the dry season may be all that is trees, are called swamps. scaping that you want to main- needed to allow naturally occurring tain, or neighboring properties wetland species to proliferate.Too The saturation of the soil limits the that might be damaged by exces- often homeowners go to great types of plants you can grow to sive moisture? lengths to establish plants that are those with “wet feet.”How long the • Would there be a safety concern not adapted to the site or to modify soil is saturated determines which for neighborhood children? the site, when it would be more wetland plants will grow best.There • How will the site be integrated effective to use plants suited to the are many small wetland plants that into your plan for maintenance? conditions. Numerous landscape grow quickly when the soil is wet in • If you need supplemental water, is plants are well adapted to wet condi- the spring and disappear when the it readily available or can you use tions and will provide beauty as well soil dries up. Species like cattails, roof drainage? as wildlife habitat. bulrushes, jewelweed, and the attrac- • If there is an existing wetland, Be sure to check the growth and tive cardinal flower do well where check wetland regulations before rooting characteristics of trees you there are alternating wet and dry altering it. want to plant. Many wet soil tolerant periods.These plants will survive • Unless you completely own a trees have shallow root systems or persistent flooding as long as most ditch, check with local authori- brittle branches and must be planted of the leaves are out of the water. ties before making any alter- a safe distance from buildings. Water lilies and pond weeds grow ations. Be sure you won’t cause well in permanently flooded ponds. adjacent properties to flood. Partially blocking a drainageway or small ditch to create your wetland In your backyard, toads and tree Safety by trapping storm water needs more frogs (spring peepers) will lay eggs Locate the backyard wetland where planning.Where a low berm less and the pollywogs will mature it is unlikely to attract unattended than a foot high will create a small where water only lasts 3 or 4 weeks; children. Check local safety ordi- wetland, planning is not complicated other frogs need longer periods. nances to determine if a fence is if: Where you have permanent water, required for the specific depth and • the drainage area above the berm the bullfrog pollywogs and small fish size of your wetland. Check local is small, generally less than an limit survival of most other frogs, building ordinances for depth and acre; toads, and salamanders. Mosquitoes safety restrictions and permits. • there is adequate area for flood will not survive in wetlands that dry flows to go around and over the out in less than a week after a sum- Building a wetland berm; and mer rain or in wetlands connected • the soil contains a high percent- to a deeper pond that supports small Since wetlands refer to a variety of age of clay. fish and large aquatic insects that conditions, there is a lot of potential feast on them. for including wetland plants in your For sites requiring a higher berm, yard.You may want a wetland that and those with a larger watershed, Where to put a only stays wet for a short period you need engineering advice. For wetland after heavy rains or one that stays sites with sandy soil or a lot of rocks, wet most of the time. It depends on A natural depression or ditch that you may also need to install a plastic the site and your desires. Establishing tends to stay wet is an ideal liner (described in the next section) a wetland in your yard may be as place to develop a wetland. Other under all or the lower portion of simple as planting wetland plants in areas with heavy clay soils that your wetland.

2 BACKYARD Wetland

You can turn a low swale in your backyard into a wetland.

bands from the deepest areas to an a child’s wading pool. To construct the wetland with a area about six inches above the 5. If you live in a region with heavy small berm to hold back water for a expected high water level, selected annual rainfall, puncture the liner in few days or weeks: according to the degree of soil satu- several places with pencil-sized 1. Put a stake in the center of the ration they require. holes about halfway up the sides to lowest portion of the drainageway allow slow drainage so the soil will where you want the berm. Building a sepa- not stay completely waterlogged for 2. Using a level on a large board or rate wetland long periods. string, place a stake where a level 6. If you plan to grow common You can create a wetland in any level line reaches the ground on either species of low maintenance plants area and make it suitable for most side. adapted to moist soils in your area, wetland plants by digging out a 3. Using the same type of level, mark fill the depression with a mixture of depression, lining it with plastic, how far back water will be impound- soil and peat. A significant amount refilling it with soil, and adding ed at the top of the berm. of peat will help retain moisture and water. After selecting the site, you 4. Remove any existing sod from an allow for aeration. should: area about 4 feet wide along the line If you intend to grow true bog plants 1. Using a hose or rope, lay out the of the berm and over about half the that require acidic soils saturated shape of your wetland. An irregular area that will be flooded. with water most of the year, fill the shape will appear the most natural. 5. Dig a trench about 1 foot deep area with a mixture of half peatmoss Sometimes a long narrow curving along the center line of the berm and half humus.Also, you should fill wetland will fit nicely into a land- and fill it with slightly damp heavy the lower half of the depression scape plan. soil, packed down firmly. with pea gravel or coarse sand to 2. Excavate an area 1-1/2 to 2 feet 6. Build your berm about 4 feet wide assure more even distribution of deep.The sides should slope gently at the bottom and 1 foot at the top. water. Burying a perforated pipe in to the deepest area. The center should be 4 to 6 inches the pea gravel connected to an 3. Put an inch of fine sand or loose higher than the ends to allow for set- upright pipe fitted with a hose con- soil in the bottom to prevent the tling and to force water flowing over nection will help add water evenly plastic liner from being punctured it around the ends, reducing the like- to the bog. by small stones. lihood of erosion. 7. Cover the edges of the plastic 4. Line the depression with sheet 7. Cover the compacted berm with with soil to hide them and hold the plastic. Hold in place with heavy purchased grass sod or the sod you liner in place. objects such as round stones. Or, originally removed from the area. install a pre-formed pool liner or use 8. Plant wetland adapted plants in 3 BACKYARD Wetland

Building a wetland plants, need almost continually satu- False hellebore (Veratrum viride) by a backyard rated soil. Plants like water lilies Turtlehead (Chelone spp.) pond need to be continually flooded. Once Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) established, plants like cattails will Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus Putting a shallow wetland at one thrive in water a couple feet deep, foetidus) edge of your backyard pond will but also in areas that are wet for Netted chain fern (Woodwardia areola- increase its value and attractiveness. only short periods. However, most ta) If you are using a pre-formed liner have a narrower tolerance range live. Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) for your pond, you may want to Always check with your local nurs- Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamon- build the wetland as described ery or other expert before making mea) above, with the water level slightly final decisions on what varieties to Shield ferns (Dropteris spp.) above the pond liner or the edge of plant. Plants should always be pur- Lady ferns (Athyrium spp.) the pond liner lowered a couple of chased from a reliable source. inches to allow water to flow into True bog plants requiring low pH the pond.This design filters sedi- Native trees tolerant of wet soils: and sun: ment and other contaminants out of Red and silver maple (Acer rubrum,A. Sundews (Drosera spp.) the water coming off your lawn or saccarinum) Butterworts (Pinguicula spp.) roof through the wetland before it River birch (Betula nigra) Pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.) enters the pond.The wetland area Catalpa spp. also protects fish and other aquatic Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Many other native wetland species life in the pond by removing any Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) are available in most areas.There are chlorine from city tap water you use. Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) also many species that have been Sycamores (Platanus spp.) naturalized in North America and are Establishing plants often considered native plants. The plants you select for your wet- Native shrubs tolerant of wet soils: Unfortunately, some of these species land will depend on: Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) are more competitive and have • length of time the soil will be sat- Leatherwood (Dirca palustris) become invasive, crowding out urated or covered with water, Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) native species that provide habitat • depth of the water, Inkberry (Ilex glabra) for indigenous wildlife. • amount of sunlight on the site, Pussy willow (Salix discolor) • climate, Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruti- On the farm cosa) • soil pH, and In the rural landscape, wetlands filter • size of the wetland. chemicals, excess nutrients, and sedi- Native herbaceous and flowering ment from flowing water, protecting plants for sunny moist or boggy Select plants that are hardy for your streams and drinking water sources. conditions: area and provide the desired wildlife They also provide wildlifehabitat . habitat and aesthetics.The species of Cattails (Typhus spp.) Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum) plants most common in other wet- Across the country, many farmers Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) lands in your area with similar flood- voluntarily return formerly drained Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) ing cycles will be easiest to grow wetlands in crop fields and pasture Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) and need the least maintenance. to fully functioning wetlands. Many Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) of these acres were marginally pro- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Choosing and ductive; returning them to wetlands Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) establishing plants provides significant ecological, eco- Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) for ponds nomic, and recreational benefits. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) To make part of your backyard like Gentian spp. natural wetlands, use a mix of Many farmers enhance their wet- lands with nesting structures for diverse plants. Most trees, shrubs, Native herbaceous and flowering ducks and other birds, put in plants ferns, and many other plants grow plants for shady moist or boggy and annual seeding to provide win- best in soils that are only saturated conditions: ter food and cover for wildlife, and early in the growing season and after Bee balm (Monarda didyma) establish native wildflowers to make heavy rains. Others, like the true bog Arrowhead (Sagittaris latifolia) the landscape more attractive.

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