Building the rain garden

1. Approvals and regulatory requirements. Check with county, Homeowners Association, State and Federal regulatories if necessary. Do not do this project in a floodplain or wetland, in prime farmland, or in threatened or endangered species habitat or utility corridors without agencies special permissions and perhaps permits. Locate all buried utilities before construction. Utility companies will often do this for you with a telephone request.

2. Finalize layout of design with wooden stakes labeled with P for perimeter,, and D for depth of cut (excavation) and the desired depth (6 inches, 12 inches, etc.)

3. Stake out area to receive the excavated spoils. Be prepared to surround with silt fence, strip topsoils and windrow and use as created top dressings or landforms and a rain garden shorelines.

4. Hire excavation, do-it-yourself, excavate by overcutting areas to receive topsoils.

5. Reapply topsoils, do minimal regrading and tracking over topsoils, too much will make topsoils compacted and this will retard plant growth or survival.

6. Install straw mulch or other mulch for erosion control on spoils, and on uplands around the rain garden.

7. Trench in 6 inch diameter corrugated plastic unperforated drain tile pipe and connect sump pump and down spouts.

8. Install plastic or clay (bentonite) liner if necessary in rain garden bottom.

9. Install, infiltration gravel and perhaps flag stone walkway, or stepping stones as trails.

10. Fill wetland with rain or garden hose.

11. Plant seeds and plant plugs. Remember green side up and seeds, for plants, are to be to the upper - to - inch of soil, slightly raked in.

12. Water three times per week in first two weeks until plants are established.