Rainscaping For People Part 2
By: Claire Samberg, Lydia Ewing, Austin Snart, Josiah Perdue, Anna Griessel
By: Claire Samberg, Lydia Ewing, Austin Snart, Josiah Perdue, Anna Griessel
A rain garden is a model of green infrastructure that promotes cleaner water by allowing it to filter through soil and plant roots, keeping it from collecting in a city street.
Green infrastructure collects stormwater and deposits it back into the ground where it can be stored, instead of allowing it to become runoff that can end up in rivers, lakes, and streams.
Plant root systems spread moisture, and filter contaminates out of the water before they enter our watershed.
Rain and stormwater runoff are captured and slowly absorbed before entering the river.
Native plants provide animal food and habitat and can live with minimal maintenance.
Inlet: Channels water into garden
Basin: Collect and hold stormwater
Soil Layers: Absorbs water and filters pollutants
Outlet: Directs overflow of water
Plants: Native plants that can handle wet-dry cycles and aid in filtration
Red Osier Dogwood
Photo by: Winona Count SWCD
Fox Sedge
Photo by: New Moon Nursery
Golden Rod (Pollinators)
Hairy Aster (Pollinators)
Milkweed (Pollinators
Evening Primrose (Pollinators)
Purple cone flower (Pollinators)
Wild bergamot (Pollinators)
Switchgrass (Soil Establisher)
Yarrow (Pollinators)
Cleavers (Medicinal)
Hayscented fern (soil establisher)
Prairie fleabane (Soil Establisher)
Wild Strawberry (Ground Cover)
Little bluestem (Soil Establisher)
Red osier dogwood (Pollinators/ Medicinal)
Fox sedge (Soil establisher)
Plants native to the environment are preferred and more well adapted to that environment... these are known are native plant species
These plants are normally chosen for rain gardens and green infrastructure because they are water tolerant, typically with deep penetrating roots. This benefits the soil in many ways, but two of the biggest are that they help prevent soil erosion, and help create more biodiversity at deeper soil depths
Hayscented Fern
Photo by: Bowman's Hill Wildflower preserve
Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds
Plaster Creek Stewards
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Install a rain barrel at your home
Conserves water and reduces stormwater runoff
Use compost instead of chemicals on your lawn
Reduces chemical runoff and improves soil health
Clean up after your dog/pet and dispose waste in trash
Planting trees
Trees absorb large quantities of water and are good for air quality