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Home My Public Portal AboutFinal Draft Raingarden OM BrochureRain Gardens Post-Construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) Ownership and Maintenance MSD Project Clear Division of Environmental Compliance 10 East Grand Avenue St. Louis, MO 63147-2913 Phone: 314.436.8710 MSDProjectClear.org Find us @MSDProjectClear Johnson Grass Sorghum halepense Broadleaf Cattail Typha latifolia Curly Dock Rumex crispus Bush Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Burnweed Erechtites hieracifolius Yellow Foxtail Setaria pumila Culver’s Root Veronicastrum virginicum Shining Bluestar Amsonia illustris Copper Iris Iris fulva Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Orange Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum Palm Sedge Carex muskingumensis Tussock Sedge Carex stricta Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Soft Rush Juncus effusus Plant photos provided by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Rain garden photos by Megan Ross. Get to Know Common Weeds and Problem Plants Get to Know Missouri Native Plants For more information, scan to visit our Stormwater BMP Toolbox Get to Know Missouri Native Plants MSDProjectClear.org MSD Customer Service: 314.768.6260 What is a Rain Garden? When it rains, stormwater flows down roofs, driveways, roadways, and other impervious surfaces, picking up contaminants like sediment, fertilizers, and bacteria. Eventually, contaminated stormwater enters storm drains that transport it to streams and lakes. A rain garden is a stormwater best management practice (BMP) designed to collect, temporarily hold, and filter this stormwater, allowing it to soak into the surrounding soils or conveying it to a downstream waterway. Rain gardens are shallow depressions planted with deep rooted native vegetation overlying a filtering system comprised of organic soil, sand, gravel, perforated pipe for drainage, and an overflow structure to pass runoff during storms that exceed its design. Your rain garden is your personal contribution to cleaner water! Rain Garden Maintenance Schedule February to March Remove trash, debris, and accumulated sediment. Prune bushes and cut back plants. Replace mulch or pea gravel as needed. April to May Replace or remove any diseased, undesirable, or dead plants. Separate or move plants if you like. Remove weeds. June to August Water new plants during extremely dry periods. Remove weeds, trash, and sediment. September to October Remove trash, debris, and accumulated sediment. Replace or remove any diseased, undesirable, or dead plants. Remove weeds; leave grasses and flowers over winter. Replace mulch or pea gravel as needed. Repair any areas with bare soil and/or erosion within the garden or surrounding embankments. Rain Garden Inspections Check for areas with erosion or accumulated sediment. Evaluate drainage by checking for standing water and/ or indicators of long-term standing water (wetland plants, algae, aquatic life). Rain gardens should drain completely within 48-72 hours after a rain event. Check the contributing drainage area for contaminants (e.g. sediment) that could be carried into the raingarden. Look for non-native or nuisance vegetation to remove. Tips for a Successful Rain Garden Trimming and Pruning: Stems from grasses and flowers can be left through the fall and winter to add visual interest and to provide food and habitat for birds and beneficial insects. Cut back plants during appropriate months with a string trimmer or pruner and remove dead vegetation to encourage new growth. Shrubs may be pruned to the shape you like. Fertilizing: Appropriate fertilizer during the first year may help establish healthy plants. Fertilizer beyond this point is not necessary because it stimulates weed growth and reduces water quality benefits. Top dressing: A two to three-inch application of mulch or pea gravel will protect the soil mix. Replacement of old mulch in the spring helps with the garden’s appearance and drainage. Use standard single or double shredded hardwood mulch that is “well aged” (at least a year since it was shredded) and free of soil, weed seeds, herbicides, etc. Pea gravel can be dispersed during storms and should be replaced when missing. Trash: Trash and other debris like leaves and grass clippings should be removed as needed. Please do not pile or spread leaves or grass clippings in your rain garden. Edges: A border defines the edge of the garden just as a frame defines a painting. A strip of mowed turf, stones, or a walking path can set the area apart and can improve rain garden appearance. Ponding Water: After a rain shower, it is normal to see shallow ponding in the rain garden for a day or two. Please do not fill in the ponding area. If water is still observed after three days, then it may be necessary to perform heavy raking, remove accumulated sediment, or replace the top layer of soil mix. Sediment: Muddy water flowing into the rain garden, such as from an eroding area in the yard, could lead to clogging. Repair the eroded areas quickly and remove the sediment that “settles out” on top of the mulch. Weeding: Weed growth during the plant establishment period is typical and weed removal helps eliminate competition with desirable plants. Weeds can be addressed with spot use of herbicide or by pulling. Blanket use of herbicide is never recommended. Diligent weeding during the first two years produces desirable plants that, by year three, are mature enough to compete and crowd out most weeds. Watering: The plants in your rain garden should not require watering once they have matured. Landscapes requires maintenance; a rain garden is no different. Following these maintenance tips will help ensure the rain garden functions well and remains an asset to your property. Maintenance Costs for Rain Gardens Maintenance costs will vary as a result of several factors, including drainage area, size of BMP, and type of plantings. Preventative maintenance is key to minimizing major costs associated with repairs. A general rule of thumb to estimate maintenance costs is 3%-6% of the installation costs. Maintenance may be higher the first few years, while plants are being established. Benefits of a Rain Garden  Reduces the volume of stormwater runoff which:  Reduces erosion and flooding  Protects aquatic habitat  Filters and removes harmful pollutants in stormwater which:  Improves water quality  Creates habitat for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects  Enhances your landscape by providing:  Lush foliage and colorful flowers  Drought tolerant green areas