How to Build A Rainwater Garden

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Native plants have been living on available rain water for decades. Rain water gardens are a great way to conserve water and grow a beautiful native plants. A few tools, an afternoon of easy work and some seeds are all that’s needed to have a lovely garden that requires little or no care, survives on rainwater alone, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Rake
Downspout splash guard
Compost
Seeds of plants native to your region

How to Build A Rain Garden

Step1

Install a splash guard at the end of a gutter downspout. This could be manufactured guard, a dry stream bed that the gardener creates, salvaged items or combinations of all of these. The objective is to direct rainwater to the garden

Step2

Decide on the size and shape of the garden. One hundred square feet will suffice. (It can be square, oval, kidney shaped or any other design desired.)

Step3

Outline the shape of your rain garden with a garden hose. Shake chalk dust or talcum powder along the hose, creating the outline of the garden. Remove the hose. You now have a template for the rain garden.

Step4

Remove the turf from inside the outline by using the shovel. Place the removed turf in a wheelbarrow. Discard the turf, or use it elsewhere.

Step5

Dig a shallow bowl about three inches deep, following the outline Deposit the soil from the bowl on the outer edges. Using the soil taken from the bowl, create a small levee or berm about six inches high, around the entire depression. Use the rake and even the height and width of the levee, so the entire bowl is enclosed with the berm. Leave an opening in the levee at the end of the bowl nearest the downspout.

Step6

Deposit a small amount of finished compost (about an inch) on the floor of the bowl.

Step7

Plant native wildflower seeds (from plants that are indigenous to your area) in the depression according to directions on the packages. Remember, these are the plants that have existed for thousands (perhaps millions) of years on rainwater alone.

Step8

Water the planted area well with spray from a hose. Continue doing this daily until the seeds sprout. Water every few days after that for a month until the seedlings become established. If it rains, take that into account and adjust your watering accordingly. Once the plants are established, stop watering, and let the plants rely solely on rainwater

Tips & Warnings

Follow instructions for planting wildflowers. Some need to be covered with soil to germinate. Others are light sensitive and need sunlight to germinate. Place several stakes with strips of foil to deter birds and other wildlife from eating the seeds.
Don't overwater. Water only long enough for the plants to establish themselves. If it rains, cut back on watering. Don't add any more compost. These native plants not only survive on existing rainfall, but they also thrive in native soils.