One popular garden type these days uses rainwater in a different manner – yes, it’s rain gardens. Rain gardens allow storm water runoff to be used for plant growth and soil enrichment rather than allowing storm water to run directly into the sewage system after a shower. Rain gardens gathers water for a certain time period, therefore not wasting a drop in the drains. In addition to keeping water pollution out of natural water sources, these gardens are just like those in Calgary gardens, providing an inexpensive and effective way of maintaining a lawn within an urban area.
Rain garden works in a way where it run off from the top of your house and then letting the water settle down at the ground surface to water the garden soil. The saturation of the soil would last in 3-4 hours, with no troubles in the fungus or habitat of insects. This garden design can let you conserve a lot of water, thus saving you in water bills. Rain gardens reduce pollution in rivers ton as much as 40%, a big help for the environment. Ideally, this models of garden are the little gardens you see in the square. The objective for this is to have a thoroughly wet or sometimes dry grounds (depending on rain seasonal rainfall) and sizable and spacious gardens can’t handle it.
Rainwater runoff is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, two essential nutrients in plant growth, so these types of gardens do not require to be fertilized or watered. The best type of plants to exist in a rain garden are shrubs, grasses, and perennials. I would suggest indigenous plants for they can withstand any weather condition or any type of soil. These gardens boost wildlife and natural habitat in urban cities even more for it resembles a mini rainforest. While butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects will be drawn to rain gardens, harmful insects like mosquitoes will not be able to breed. The reason for it is that the water does not retain long enough in rain gardens where mosquito larvae hatch.
Try to have a garden pond if you want to see some water, it has a deep basin, but don’t forget to install pump, filter and aeration. Calgary ponds are popular these days with popular water features like waterfalls, fountains and man-made lagoon. Consider a koi pond filtration in your pond as well, have a UV filter or basket filter so the pond health and efficiency is maintained. Garden ponds share similar purpose with rain garden for the most part.
Usually, rain gardens are placed ten feet from a house’s roof, though it can also be located much farther. The gardens are depressed a few inches (the depression is normally 8 inches to 3 feet) so that water can collect and do not have to be watered because they function like a natural irrigation system. Rain gardens can either be self-contained or under-drained. Under-drained gardens usually drains quicker than because of the porous soil. In under-drained gardens, plants at lower elevations get more water because the soil at the lower areas retains water for longer periods of time after the storm.
In general, rain garden would ideally make urban areas “green”, at the same time fortifying biodiversity and enhancing the area helping you save in water cost … of course if there’s always rain.
Written By:
Custom Stone and Waterscapes
3829 Parkhill Place SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2W6
Specializes in Calgary Landscape Design, Calgary Landscaping, Calgary Gardens, Calgary Ponds and Waterfalls.
(403)870-1142
