12 OUTDOOR AMERICA ●●
WINTER 2006 OUTDOOR AMERICA ●
WINTER 2006 13
OA Afield
Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of pollution in our
streams and lakes.
Impervious surfaces all around us—
driveways, roads, parking lots—block water from draining
into the...
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12 OUTDOOR AMERICA ●●
WINTER 2006 OUTDOOR AMERICA ●
WINTER 2006 13
OA Afield
Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of pollution in our
streams and lakes.
Impervious surfaces all around us—
driveways, roads, parking lots—block water from draining
into the ground.
Lawns are not much better, unless they
have a place where the water can go.
Enter the rain garden.
Anytime you have a dip in the
landscape that contains vegetation to help soak up and
drain excess water, you have a rain garden.
Think of it as a
mini wetland.
It can fill your backyard or be as small as a
baby pool.
It can beautify your home and invite birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects, including those that eat mosquitoes.
What’s more, it’s a manageable project that can be
built in a weekend.
Here’s how.
How to Build a Rain Garden
3.
Prepare the pit
4.
Make a berm
Start digging the first section at the
uphill side until you’ve reached the
depth you want.
A typical depth is 4
to 8 inches below the string; a fla
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