Everything But The Weed

Approved by:
Linda Maze, a Wedding photography Gainesville FL in Gainesville Florida

Across the US, a new type of garden that uses rainwater in a different way, known as rain gardens, are becoming increasingly popular. 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. This process of absorption usually takes a few hours and doesn’t cause problems with insects or fungus. The advantages in having this garden type is that it saves water consumption, thus helping you deal with the effects of global warming. Rain gardens potentially cut down the amount of pollution that reaches rivers and streams by 30% as well. You can see little garden prototypes in esplanades and city parks. The reason for this is that the garden will become extremely wet and extremely dry, depending on the amount of rain, and a large garden cannot handle that.

This garden types doesn’t require to be watered frequently for the rainwater itself is enough as supplements for the plants. Woody plants like trees and shrubs are the best plants for your rain garden. I would suggest indigenous plants for they can withstand any weather condition or any type of soil. These gardens encourage wildlife and biodiversity in urban areas by simulating miniature versions of a rainforest. These gardens attracts biodiversity for it mimics as a smaller rainforest version. While butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects will be drawn to rain gardens, harmful insects like mosquitoes will not be able to breed. The main reason for it is that rain gardens don’t have deep basins where mosquitoes like to gather.

You can have a garden pond which has an inmost basin if you want to see more water, but include an aeration, filter and pump. One of the preferred water features today are Calgary ponds, with other incorporating a lagoon, a fountain or a cascading waterfall.   Remember to have koi pond filtration in the pond too, like a basket filter or a UV filter to maintain its efficiency and health. Garden ponds is usually created as a natural water retention spot for a home or a property and also has the same characteristics like the rain gardens.    

Usually, rain gardens are placed ten feet from a house’s roof, though it can also be located much farther. The garden’s natural irrigation requires no watering actually, with just a slight depression from 10 inches to three feet. The two basic types of rain gardens are under-drained and self-contained. Under-drained gardens usually drains quicker than because of the porous soil. Under-drained gardens allow plants in the lower elevation to have more water because water would stay at the lower area longer.  

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