Questions

1. Do I want some standing pooled water for longer than 72 hours after precipitation events or snow melt? If yes, want to make sure to either have low permeability clay substrates that can be further compacted during construction, or may require the addition of a clay (bentonite) or plastic barrier or liner. Rain gardens in sands, gravels, silt and mixed soil types generally will dewater in less than 72 hours.

2. Do I want my Rain Garden to be naturalized - planted with native plants - or planted with ornamental species? Ornamental Rain Gardens may need to be designed with an additional water source for maintenance of the ornamental plants which are less drought-tolerant than native plants. Naturalized Rain Gardens are the easiest and least expensive to design, build and maintain. Ornamental projects can be especially costly if an additional water supply is needed to maintain water levels.

3. Do I want the Rain Garden isolated, or integrated into the landscaping plan for the yard? Your answer to this question will guide you into plans to integrate the Rain Garden into your yard's landscape or ways to isolate this feature.

4. What, if anything, do I want to personally do on this project? Over a couple of weekends parents and several kids can design, layout and build a rain garden. In one community, several teenage boys started their own new company to design, build, and plant six Rain Gardens over the course of one summer vacation. Perhaps earth moving and plumbing would be hired out but you may want to make the planting work a family exercise. Be aware of the options.