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Planting a Rain Garden 1 What We Planted In Our Take Action Planting a Rain Garden 1. Create your own rain garden or include Rain Garden native plants in your existing gardens. 2. Become a River-Friendly Resident and learn exciting ways to improve your yard. 3. Help us safeguard our waterways by be- coming a member of the Watershed Asso- ciation. About Us The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Asso- ciation is one of central New Jersey’s first Rain Garden Design Plant List– environmental groups. Since 1949, we’ve (full sun conditions) been protecting clean water and the environ- ment in the 265-square-mile region drained Perennials Common Name Symbol by the Stony Brook and Millstone River. We pursue our mission through conservation, Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed Ai advocacy, science and education. The Wa- Aster novi-belgii New York Aster An tershed Association conducts stream moni- Chelone lyonnii “Hot Lips” Turtlehead Cly toring at more than 40 locations in central Eupatorium maculatum Joe-Pye Weed Em New Jersey, provides more than 400 envi- “Gateway” Lilium superbum Turk’s Cap Lily Ls ronmental education programs each year, Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells Mv advocates for state and local policies to pro- Monarda didyma Bee-Balm Md tect our environment, and manages the 930- “Jacob Cline” acre Watershed Reserve in Hopewell, NJ, Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot Mf which hosts more than 10 miles of hiking “Claire Grace” trails and the Honey Brook Organic Farm. Senecio aureus Golden Ragwort Sa Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s Root Vv Ferns Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Or Grasses Chasmanthum latifolium Wild Oats Cl 31 Titus Mill Rd Pennington, NJ 08534 Stony Brook-Millstone 609-737-3735 www.thewatershed.org Watershed Association What Is a Rain Garden? Plant Selection Flooding in Harry’s Brook A rain garden is simply a garden that captures Native plants uniquely adapted to their rainwater allowing it to soak naturally into the soil. environment are ideal. For your garden, select Rain gardens can reduce problems with native plants that prefer wet conditions. Also stormwater runoff and standing water. In addition, note the plants’ tolerance for soil type, pH, sun the plants and soil in a rain garden can filter and or shady conditions. reduce pollutants-such as sediments, nutrients and pesticides from lawn applications, and oils from cars and driveways-that are common in stormwater runoff, . Maintaining Rain Gardens Healthy, dense, and diverse plant growth A rain garden provides a pleasing ensures the success of your rain garden. answer to runoff problems while Maintain your garden by weeding, pruning, and attracting beautiful birds, butterflies, mulching during the growing seasons, and insects and other wildlife. removing debris during the fall or winter. Water Large portions of land in Harry’s Brook water- the rain garden initially and during dry spells to shed are highly urbanized, resulting in a signifi- cant amount of stormwater runoff. This causes help new plants establish. localized flooding, stream bank erosion, and Site Considerations downstream transportation of sediment. As CALL BEFORE YOU DIG: seen above, this can create a major problem Avoid using pesticides in a rain garden NJ One Call 1-800-272-1000 marks utility lines. for many landowners in the area, in addition to because they can kill or weaken caterpillars, compromising habitat quality for the stream’s butterflies and other beneficial insects, WATER FLOW: organisms. Consider the direction rain water flows in your along with any pests. yard. Consider directing a storm gutter toward Pesticides also impair water quality. A rain garden receiving runoff from 1,000 sq. your garden. ft of area can treat and recharge around 25,000 gallons of water per year. PROXIMITY TO HOUSE: Additional Resources Stay at least 10 feet away from your house and Check out these websites for more rain garden Do your part to help reduce flooding, improve at least 25 feet away from septic systems. information, links, and a Rain Garden Manual water quality, and restore habitat in your water- that gives step-by-step instructions, tools, and shed by installing your very own rain garden. SOIL CONDITIONS: designs for planting your own rain garden. Amend heavy clay or compacted soils with sand New Jersey Native Plant Society www.npsnj.org/pages/ nativeplants_Rain_Gardens.html Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program water.rutgers.edu/Rain_Gardens/RGWebsite/ raingardens.html Culver’s Root, Veronicastrum virginicum Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata .
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