Visit American Native Plants to get started on your rain garden project!
If you are looking for a new project to start on your property this spring, then look no further. Start a rain garden! Rain gardens filter rainwater while providing a beautiful home for birds, butterflies, and other native wildlife. Not only are they beautiful, but rain gardens are also easy to maintain. Here are a few ways that you can get started with your rain garden today.
Choosing a Location
Pick a spot in your yard, at least ten feet from your home, that is a low spot or a depression in the ground. Clay soils work best for rain gardens because they slow down the absorption of water while still allowing it to drain. This is why Maryland is such a great place to build rain gardens; much of the soil is famous Maryland red clay.
Pick Your Plants
After you establish a location for your rain garden, you need to select some plants that will be best suited to this type of garden. Choose native plants that can tolerate wet conditions and try to plant seedlings instead of mature plants, as they are easier to establish. You can also incorporate some grasses, sedges, and rushes to about one-third of the rain garden, as these are great for water filtration because they have very deep root systems.
Choose a few marginal plants that you can plant on the edge of your rain garden. These plants need to tolerate both wet and dry conditions.
Make sure when you are planning your rain garden to plant your vegetation in large drifts for an even, greater overall impact. Mix up texture and color of foliage to keep things interesting. Make sure to read the labels on the plants to best understand where they should go and how they should be planted. Once you have done all that, water your rain garden and mulch the area.
American Native Plants Can Help
Call us with questions at 410-529-0552 or email us at sales@americannativeplants.com. We have over 100,000 native trees, shrubs, and plants! Flip through our catalog, and for ideas, inspiration, and to see examples of our work, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. We cannot wait to hear from you!