pennsylvania plants for rain garden

1. What are the best plants for a rain garden?
2. Can you plant trees in a rain garden?
3. What characteristics are necessary for a plant to thrive in a rain garden?
4. When should you plant a rain garden?
5. Do rain gardens attract mosquitoes?
6. Do rain gardens really work?
7. How do I plan a rain garden?
8. What is the purpose of a rain garden?
9. How deep should a rain garden be?
10. How much does a rain garden cost?
11. Do the rain gardens have standing water?
12. Where should I put my rain garden?
13. Can you plant a garden next to your house?
14. How do I make a rain garden without overwatering?
15. What soaks up water in yard?
16. How does water get to the plants in the rain garden?
17. Do retention ponds attract mosquitoes?
18. Should you plant before or after rain?
19. What is the difference between a bioswale and a rain garden?
20. How far does rain soak into the ground?

What are the best plants for a rain garden?

Plant a Rain Garden

• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
• Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Swamp mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
• Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium)
• Sedges (Carex)
• Bluestar (Amsonia)
• Turtlehead (Chelone)

Can you plant trees in a rain garden?

Most of the vegetation planted in rain gardens consists of shrubs and herbaceous plants, but you can also install trees in a rain garden if you wish. However, you must pick species that can adapt to the conditions present in or near the rain garden if you want to give the trees the best chance of thriving.

What characteristics are necessary for a plant to thrive in a rain garden?

Criteria for Selecting Rain Garden Species

Plants that need full sun need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun during the growing season; plants that require shade cannot tolerate more that 3 hours of direct sun. The hours and angle of sunlight change with the seasons, too.

When should you plant a rain garden?

Although a rain garden can be installed anytime the ground is not frozen, spring and fall are the best times to start your garden. In spring, the soil is easier to dig and the rainy weather means less initial watering.

Do rain gardens attract mosquitoes?

Rain can be a valuable resource when managed properly. If not managed properly, storm water runoff can threaten homes, neighborhoods and even people's lives. Rain gardens do not attract mosquitoes as the water is typically absorbed within 48 hours which is not long enough for mosquitoes to breed. ...

Do rain gardens really work?

Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff. Compared to a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the ground. ... Because rain gardens will drain within 12-48 hours, they prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

How do I plan a rain garden?

How to Build a Rain Garden

1. Choose the Site. Your rain garden should be located at least 10 feet from the house. ...
2. Prepare the Soil. Once you've identified the new garden's location, remove the sod and dig a shallow depression approximately 6" deep. ...
3. Choose Native Plants. Native plants are the best choice for rain gardens.

What is the purpose of a rain garden?

A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property.

How deep should a rain garden be?

A typical rain garden is between four and eight inches deep. A rain garden more than eight inches deep might pond water too long, look like a hole in the ground, and present a tripping hazard for somebody stepping into it.

How much does a rain garden cost?

The cost of a rain garden can vary substantially based on size, location, plant variety, soil amendments needed, and availability of volunteers. Residential rain gardens average about $3 to $4 per square foot, depending on soil conditions and the density and types of plants used.

Do the rain gardens have standing water?

No. Because rain gardens are shallow and are only built on soils with sufficient drainage, they are designed to dry out before mosquitoes can reproduce. Will my rain garden have standing water? Rain gardens are designed to infiltrate water in about a day.

Where should I put my rain garden?

The rain garden should be located in a place that can collect as much impervious area (driveway, roof, sidewalks) runoff as possible. The best areas are generally where water naturally drains but doesn't hold water. It should also be located at least 5'-15' away from your home.

Can you plant a garden next to your house?

Be sure not to put the garden too close to your house, which will cast shadows; keep planting areas at least 10 feet away from the walls. Vegetables planted in the shade are less productive and may be more susceptible to disease and insect damage than planted in full sun.

How do I make a rain garden without overwatering?

You can use pre-mixed rain garden soil, or you can use general gardening topsoil. Mix compost with your soil before adding it into your garden, as it will provide nutrients that may be lacking in the soil. Your soil's compost content should be around 20-30%. The clay content in your soil should be minimal.

What soaks up water in yard?

In order to make your lawn more amenable to water absorption, work organic matter into your soil. Garden compost, leaf mold and manure will all open the soil up and create more minute channels through which water can escape. Dig. For hardpan problems, a shovel may be the best solution.

How does water get to the plants in the rain garden?

A Rain Garden receives water from impervious (hard) surfaces such as rooftops, sidewalks, driveways and patios. The shallow depression of the garden holds the water so it can slowly infiltrate back into the soil as the plants, mulch and soil naturally remove pollutants from the runoff.

Do retention ponds attract mosquitoes?

Because 95 percent of mosquitos lay their eggs and hatch in the perimeter of your retention pond. The number one habitat for mosquitoes is cattails. Not only are cattails a noxious aquatic weed that has millions of seeds, but they also have shallow root structures that make it ideal as a factory for mosquitoes.

Should you plant before or after rain?

Plant Seeds Before It Rains

The best time to get seeds in the ground is when the soil is relatively dry, but right before a good soaking rain. Dry soil is easier to work with than wet soil and seeds are less likely to rot in soil that doesn't stay soggy for prolonged periods.

What is the difference between a bioswale and a rain garden?

The main difference is that the bioswale moves water to somewhere else in the garden, while also allowing some (but not all) of it to infiltrate. A rain garden is specifically meant to increase infiltration. Bioswales are often used to convey water to a rain garden.

How far does rain soak into the ground?

An inch of rain will wet the soil to a depth of 1 foot, if there is no runoff and the soil is a sandy loam. If your soil trends to more sand it will penetrate further, and it will be more easily absorbed, but it won't be retained as long.