The rain gardens They are increasingly common and are a great tool for the maintenance of soils and gardens. It is an area full of plants such as evergreen leaves located in places where surface runoff of rainwater flows. These gardens have great utility and numerous benefits for the soil.
Therefore, in this article we are going to tell you what rain gardens are, their benefits, maintenance and much more.
What are rain gardens?
These depressions, adorned with everlasting flowers and native plants, serve as reservoirs for rain water. Located in strategic areas, they collect runoff from impermeable surfaces such as roofs and streets. After a rain, rain gardens fill with a shallow layer of water, which gradually soaks into the soil instead of being diverted into storm drains.
Benefits of rain gardens
Rain gardens are an innovative and sustainable solution to address the challenges associated with rainwater management in urban environments. These strategically designed gardens offer a number of significant benefits that go beyond simply controlling excess water during rainfall. These are some of the benefits we can obtain from rain gardens:
- Flood control: These gardens act as stormwater management systems, helping to prevent flooding by absorbing and retaining excess rainwater. To better understand how these events are managed, you may be interested in reading about what is a flood.
- Improvement of water quality: By filtering and absorbing rainwater, gardens contribute to improving water quality. Vegetables and soil act as natural filters, reducing runoff of pollutants into nearby bodies of water.
- Promotion of biodiversity: These gardens provide favorable habitats for various species of plants and animals, thus promoting local biodiversity.
- Saving drinking water: By facilitating the natural absorption of rainwater into the soil, rain gardens contribute to saving drinking water by reducing dependence on artificial irrigation systems.
Rain gardens and stormwater management
In addition to reducing surface runoff, rain gardens allow for the gradual recharge of underground aquifers. By facilitating the absorption of rainwater into the soil, it helps maintain healthy levels of groundwater reserves, which is essential for long-term sustainability.
Stormwater management can be done much better with these gardens by capturing and retaining rainwater. Thanks to them, soil erosion can be prevented, a common problem in urban areas affected by heavy rainfall. This not only preserves the quality of the soil, but also prevents sedimentation in nearby water bodies.
Maintaining a rain garden
There are certain maintenance tasks for a rain garden to keep it working properly. These activities are the following:
- regular cleaning: Removing leaves, branches or other organic debris that may accumulate on the surface of the rain garden is essential. This ensures that the drainage channels do not become clogged and that water can flow effectively into the soil.
- Vegetation care: Checking the condition of the plants in the garden is key to maintaining their health and vitality. Pruning plants as necessary and replacing those that may have died or become diseased ensures that the garden continues to serve its purpose as a natural filter.
- Mulch replacement: Applying or replenishing layers of mulch around plants helps conserve moisture, control weeds, and improve soil stability. Additionally, mulch contributes to water retention and erosion control.
- Garden structure checks: The structural integrity of the rain garden should be checked regularly. Ensuring that edges are well defined, soil levels are adequate, and there is no excessive erosion is crucial to maintaining the effectiveness of the system.
- Pest control: Inspecting plants for signs of pests and taking preventative or corrective measures when necessary is essential. Integrated pest management can include organic methods to ensure the long-term health of the garden.
- Weed control: Keeping the garden free of weeds is important to prevent competition for nutrients and water. The presence of weeds can also affect the aesthetics of the garden and compromise its ability to filter water effectively.
- Verification of absorption capacity: It is necessary to periodically evaluate the absorption capacity of the soil in the rain garden. In this way, the infiltration capacity is checked to ensure that the permeable soil continues to allow adequate absorption of rainwater.
Urban rain gardens: an ecological and sustainable solution
The use of rain gardens as part of low-impact development strategies demonstrates be very effective in mitigating problems associated with runoff and water pollution. By absorbing rainwater and purifying it from contaminants, rain gardens not only play a crucial role in the water cycle, but also improve the visual appeal of the surrounding environment, contributing to the overall aesthetic improvement of the landscape.
When incorporated into low-impact development projects, rain gardens can be combined with other techniques such as permeable pavements, compost-enriched soil amendment, green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and natural grass management. These additional measures further improve rainwater absorption, minimize stormwater runoff and facilitate the filtration of pollutants.
In the 1990s, rain gardens were initially introduced and gained popularity in the United States. The term “rain garden” encompasses several components, including bioretention strips and tree pits, which are specifically designed to collect and treat surface water runoff from paved areas, such as roads.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the characteristics of rain gardens, their maintenance and benefits.