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This rain garden, part of the 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative in Kansas City, catches water that naturally runs there as well as water directed there by the buried pipe next to the steps. Photo © Lynn Hinkle
| Successful natural landscaping, however, is not as simple as throwing seeds on the ground, she says. The site must be prepared and all non-native species eliminated. The first three years mean pulling, tilling and smothering non-natives, weeds and turf grass.
Once established, though, native plants bring many benefits. According to the group, native plants do not require fertilizers, use fewer pesticides, require less water than lawns, don't need to be mowed, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
VanBuecken suggests that those interested in natural landscaping begin by reading some of the many books now available on the subject. The group's Web site also provides information. Its national headquarters and EcoCenter, soon to be established in the Wisconsin Town of Menasha, will give visitors firsthand experience and provide a base for those working to protect and restore native habitats.
Rainwater Harvesting
An old idea is gaining new popularity in water-friendly landscapes. Harvesting the rain is a concept that goes back to ancient times. Today, its benefits have drawn the interest of countries, regions, states and even custom home builders.
| | | | | | |  | | | | | | Excited about all you and your neighbors might do to create water-friendly landscapes? Here are some tips to consider.
- As an alternative to solid concrete driveways and walkways, use open pavers, gravel or other options that let rain seep into the soil.
- If choosing your rain-catching container, look for one that has a secure removable lid that will prevent children or animals from opening it and a first-flush valve to remove accumulated debris.
- Create a landscape that's cool, less work and easier on smaller plants. Plant deciduous trees with understory trees and shrubs as windbreaks. These cooling sanctuaries will protect smaller plants from the drying effects of wind.
- Consider switching from common sprinklers, that often waste water as they blanket an area from sidewalk to decorative stones, to micro/drip irrigation systems. These systems, with kits available for DIYers, are networks of small plastic pipes to get water right to plant roots. Even simpler is to just use a soaker hose, a hose with tiny holes that lets water seep out slowly. It can be hooked up to your outdoor faucet to get water only where you need it.
- If choosing xeriscaping, don't defeat the purpose of having drought-tolerant plants by overwatering them.
- Check to see when your plants really need moisture. Don't just water mindlessly on a schedule. Put a few moisture gauges in your yard. Or, push your fingers two to three inches down into the soil to see if it is moist.
- While native plants have adapted to native soils, many home sites have been filled with construction soil, not native soils. Make proper bed preparation a priority.
- Besides contacting local experts, get an idea of the native plants for your area by exploring the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plants database.
| | | | | | | | | | | | Stanton Homes in the Raleigh, N.C., area now offers rainwater harvesting systems as a standard feature in select new homes and an option in all new homes. CEO Stan Williams says, "With current drought conditions in the Raleigh area, we want to offer solutions to homeowners interested in ways to keep gardens and lawns green. These systems are easy to use, and it's amazing how far they can extend water usage for outdoor landscaping."
To make this free on-site supply an effective way to handle landscape needs, homeowners need to plan for how much water could be available. The theory is that about six-tenths of a gallon will be collected per square foot of collection surface per inch of rainfall, so a 500-square-foot roof section directed to one downspout could collect about 300 gallons from an inch of rain. However, water is typically lost as rain splashes and the first collection of assorted debris is flushed out.
Calculate the square footage of the roof that drains to the downspout you plan to tap. Find your average rainfall amounts. Either size your barrel or collection tank accordingly or plan so overflow can be diverted from your building foundation. Rainwater harvesting companies offer options from single rain barrel kits to complete underground systems with pumps and irrigation lines.
Rain Gardens
Some areas of the country see feast or famine with rainfall. Rain gardens, another option for a water-friendly yard, are for the feast days.
Specifically planned at low spots in the yard, rain gardens naturally process the storm or surface water that is directed or naturally rushes there. The garden allows the water time to be taken up by flowering plants and grasses planted there as well as to soak into the soil. Correctly designed, the garden does not hold water long enough for it to become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Without a rain garden, that same water would rush away, causing erosion and carrying the pollutants it picks up along the way into public storm water systems or rivers and streams.
With their importance in controlling runoff, rain gardens have become a rallying project for several community groups. One such group, 10,000 Rain Gardens, is an initiative in Kansas City, Mo., that combines the efforts of citizens, corporations, educators, non-profit organizations and the government. Project Manager Lynn Hinkle says the "initiative has raised awareness of how each one of us can improve water quality in our community while improving the property values of our homes. Rain gardens are a beautiful way to make our city greener, cleaner and more livable." Hinkle says hundreds of rain gardens have been built since the 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative was launched, but only about 300 have been officially registered at its Web site. A spring campaign will urge people to photograph their rain garden and register it.
"Kansas City, Mo., has a goal to become recognized as one of the EPA's greenest cities through our efforts to capture more raindrops where they fall," says Hinkle. She says more businesses are looking at rain gardens and green roofs to help capture rain water. Schools have been the most active participants and churches have offered to hold rain garden training sessions to encourage stewardship of the earth. City government projects have begun to adopt green solutions and will measure the impact of rain gardens and bio-swales in reducing the amount of storm water runoff that contributes to flooding and pollution.
With such beautiful, practical and money-saving options available, it's easy to make your landscape and your greater community truly green.
Read other Green Homes Special Series articles here.
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Text by Maureen Blaney Flietner
© 2008 BobVila.com
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