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Rain Garden Information Resources Chicago Rain Garden Information City of Chicago Department of Environment http://www.cityofchicago.org/Environment Chicago Wilderness http://www.chicagowilderness.org Help Protect Our Water Resources, Rain Garden Network & Beautify Your Yard http://www.raingardennetwork.com Prairie Rivers Network: Rain Gardens for Illinois & Neighborhood . http://prairierivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/raingardenbrochure.pdf CNT’s Green Values Stormwater Toolbox What is a Rain Garden? http://greenvalues.cnt.org A rain garden is a shallow, constructed depression with deep-rooted native plants that is meant to capture and absorb stormwater. It is also an opportunity to celebrate water resources in your yard. Other Rain Garden Information Maplewood Rain Gardens (Minnesota) Why should I consider planting a rain garden in my yard? http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=247 Rain gardens reduce the amount and rate of stormwater flowing into sewers, Rain Gardens of West Michigan and therefore… www.raingardens.org/ • help prevent flooding in your basement and on your street, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources • help prevent contamination of our waterways, and http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/nps/rg/ • keep water in the natural water cycle and help increase the groundwater supply. Photo and Drawing Credits: • Golden Alexander - Jim Nachel In addition to being an important stormwater management tool, rain gardens • Jacob’s Ladder - Jim Nachel that have native plants… • Bee Balm, Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan - Department of Environment • Cardinal Flower - www.raingardens.org • beautify your yard and neighborhood, • Diagram - www.raingardennetwork.com • provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects (i.e. dragonflies that eat mosquitoes) • require no fertilizer and less maintenance than conventional lawns City of Chicago or gardens, and Richard M. Daley Plant a • make your neighborhood cooler by releasing moisture into the air Mayor from the plants. Rain gardens absorb rainwater that would otherwise end up in the city sewers. RAIN GARDEN Chicago’s combined sewer system mixes stormwater with untreated sewage. www.cityofchicago.org/Environment Normally, this water is treated. However, during a heavy rain, the sewers can get too full, and this untreated rainwater/wastewater mix can be released into our waterways. In Your Yard! How to Build Your Own Rain Garden Plants -Go Native! Rain Garden . .n Location Native Midwestern plants have evolved to thrive in our natural conditions and Your rain garden can be in your front, back or side yard, or on your parkway. once established, require little maintenance. Make sure it is... Native plants are ideal for rain gardens because many can withstand a range of • receiving water from a disconnected downspout, or located in a wet-to-dry conditions, and their long roots absorb more water. Plus, they are relatively low spot, beautiful and attract birds and beneficial insects. • at least 5 ft. away from the house to prevent possible flooding, and • in a spot with some sun (at least 6 hours a day). Choose your plants according to your soil type, amount of sun and personal Black-Eyed Susan preference. Include plants with a variety of colors and bloom times, so that Design your garden will look vibrant throughout the seasons. • Choose a garden size and shape that fits your site. • Dig a slight depression and make sure that plants in the lowest area can withstand the most water at their roots. • Add compost to help absorb moisture and help young plants thrive. See the “Resources” list on the back cover for more details. Maintenance Jacob’s Ladder Cardinal Flower Bee Balm Golden Alexander Purple Coneflower Though maintenance of native plants can be minimal once established, it is very important to give special care to your rain garden during the first several Common Name Height Bloom Time Color weeks after planting. Common Name Height Bloom Time Color SHADE • Watering—young plants need about one inch of rainfall or water per week SUN (and more right after planting). Consider using water from a rain barrel! Virginia Bluebells 1-1.5’ Apr Blue Prairie Violet 6’ Apr-Jun Blue • Weeding—take care not to weed the native plants (some may seed on Jacob’s Ladder 1-2’ Apr-June Purple Bee Balm 2-3’ May-July Pink Wild Columbine 2’ Apr-June Red their own and surprise you); using a 3”-5” layer of mulch will Spiderwort 2’ May-July Purple help prevent weeds. Canada Violet 6” May Yellow Purple Prairie Clover 1-2’ June-July Purple False Solomon’s Seal 2-4’ May-June White • No fertilizer is needed. Yellow Coneflower 4’ June-Aug Yellow Foamflower 1’ May-June White Butterfly Milkweed 2’ July-Aug Orange Golden Alexander 1-2’ May-June Yellow Keep in mind… Nodding Onion 2’ July-Aug Pink/White Solomon’s Seal 1-1.5’ May-June White Black-eyed Susan 2” July-Sep Yellow-Orange Wild Geranium 1’ May-June Pink Purple Coneflower 3-4’ July-Oct Purple Cardinal Flower 1-2’ • You may want to put up low fencing to keep people, pets and animals July-Aug Red Little Bluestem 2-3’ Aug-Oct Red/Brown White Turtlehead 1-2’ July-Sep White from trampling on the plants and hindering growth. New England Aster 3-4’ Fall Purple Bigleaf Aster 2-4’ Aug-Sep White • Get creative with making your rain garden your own! See the “Resources” list on the back cover for more details. See the “Resources” list on the back cover for more details..
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