Rain Garden Design Templates - How to Design a rain garden

2. Site analysis
	A. Review inventory information and assign + and – to the information B. Determine optimal area for rain garden based on:
		1. Moisture/water issues 2. How people move through the area/ who will see it 3. Other design considerations such as views, wildlife
	C. Determine which plant list to use based on:
		1. Light 2. Moisture 3. Soil types 4. Planting Hardiness Zone and physiographic region 5. Desired maintenance practices

3. Garden Design Concept Development

	A.	Is based on inventory, analysis and observation/inspiration Is an organizing idea which is translated into spatial/garden layout Is used as a basis for selecting a garden template
	B. Design Vocabulary
			1. Principles and Elements of Design
				a. Principles -
					i. Unity – what ties it all together; can be done via the elements of design ii. Balance –
						- Formal is symmetrical/ axial - Informal is a symmetrical and non axial but appears stable
					iii. Accent – a contrasting element is used for emphasis
				b. Elements – the building blocks of design
					i. Color
						- Influence of color on mood - Influence of color on wildlife - Seasonal variations
					ii. Form/ plant habit – the overall shape of a plant and is predictable iii. Texture – creates depth and emotive effects
						- Seasonal variations - Overall/ dominant
					iv. Scale – puts the garden in human perspective v. Line – moves the eye
						- Plants have “lines” - Beds have bedlines
					vi. Value – how light or dark a plant is; influences perception of garden mood

4. Garden Design &/or Choose a Garden Template
	A. Decide on the theme of your garden and look at templates to see which matches your design ideas best
	B. Layouts/Templates
		1. Border Garden
			a. Perennial Border – 130 SF b. Screening with fragrance – 256 SF c. Red, White and Blue, Low Maintenance – 200 SF d. Townhouse divider/shared garden – 130 SF e. Deer Resistant – 200 SF f. Tree hedgerow – 903 SF g. White, Blue and Yellow, Low Maintenance – 200 SF
		2. Butterfly Garden
			a. Vegetated Swale – 250 SF b. Perennial Border – 130 SF
		3. Formal layouts
			a. Rain garden Parterre – 384 SF b. Roses and friends – 252 SF c. Entry Garden – 113 SF plus 72 SF permeable pavers d. For the birds – 450 SF e. Screening with fragrance – 256 SF f. One Nice Tree – 192 SF
		4. Informal layout with two sided viewing
			a. Tree hedgerow – 903 SF b. Curved Border – 550 SF c. White, Blue and Yellow, Low Maintenance – 200 SF
		5. Four season interest – color/texture/form
			a. Corner rain garden – 150 SF b. Curved Border – 550 SF c. Screening with fragrance – 256 SF d. One Nice Tree – 192 SF e. Entry Garden – 113 SF plus 72 SF permeable pavers f. Roses and friends – 252 SF g. Rain garden Parterre – 384 SF h. White, Blue and Yellow, Low Maintenance – 200 SF i. Townhouse divider/shared garden – 130 SF j. For the birds – 450 SF k.Tree hedgerow – 903 SF
		6. Fragrance
			a. Screening with Fragrance – 256 SF b. Roses and friends – 252 SF
		7. Herbaceous Plants
			a. Perennial Border – 130 SF b. Deer Resistant – 200 SF
		8. Color emphasis
			a. Perennial Border – 130 SF b. White, Blue and Yellow, Low Maintenance – 200 SF c. Deer Resistant – 200 SF

5. Plant lists by Zone and Physiographic Region for selection for use in rain gardens (more lists in plant list document)

Plant Lists

Excel

Bioswale Plant Selection Possibilities List Blue and White Zone 7 [.xls]
Plants for Bioretention 2006 [.xls]
Rain Garden Plants [.xls]
Full Sun Rain Garden Plants [.xls]
Full Sun Rain Garden Plants Coastal Plain [.xls]
Full Sun Rain Garden Plants Mountain [.xls]
Full Sun Rain Garden Plants Piedmont [.xls]
Partial Shade Rain Garden Plants [.xls]
Partial Shade Rain Garden Plants Coastal Plain [.xls]
Partial Shade Rain Garden Plants Mountain [.xls]
Partial Shade Rain Garden Plants Piedmont [.xls]

PDF:

Success in a Soggy Garden, The GreenMan Montgomery County, Maryland DEP

6 . Garden installation and care
	Essential Information
		Mark your utilities before you dig Know your soil time and amend to a minimum depth of 12” Choose the right plant for the right place
	Preparing for Planting
		Construction guidance
			Check the various online resources listed in this and other documents on the website for specific procedural methods. Lay out your garden with a hose or string and mark where all the plants are to go before you dig, buy plants or get your amendments. Gather your materials before you start to dig and minimize any walking on the amended soil throughout the construction and subsequent time.
	Planting your Garden
		Layout the plants according to the plan before your start to dig, Dig holes and install plants; an inch of the rootball may be above the final level of the garden. Water all plants well. Add 3” of mulch around all the plants; do not pile mulch on the stems of the plants.
	Caring for your rain garden
		Installation and first season
			Watering practices
				Water less frequently but longer. Water until you have added 1” of water and do this once a week for the first season. In subsequent seasons, you will not need to water at all except in periods of prolonged dryness. To determine how long it takes to add an inch of water, place a measuring cup in the garden and set your sprinkler on. When the measuring cup holds 1” of water, then you have watered the appropriate amount of time.
			Weeds, Mulch and other cultural issues
				Weeding is important to do and to be vigilant about. Do not use herbicides in a raingarden; it will degrade the water quality you are trying to improve. Mulch will need to be refreshed annually. Check your depth of mulch before adding more. It should be 3” deep. If the mulch is 3” deep, do not add more unless you remove some first.
				Perennial care
					Perennials will typically need to be divided every three years. Cut back perennials in the fall.
				Shrub care
					This varies with the shrub but generally, prune flowering shrubs immediately after they bloom. If you wish to prune for a specific shape, prune out some of the interior of the shrub before you reduce the overall size of the shrubs.
		Maintenance schedule
			This will vary by the type of garden and by the zone the garden is in. It is often helpful to tie maintenance tasks like mulching and pruning to a holiday (e.g. cut back perennials between Halloween and Thanksgiving) Keep a garden journal the first year and note when you do various maintenance tasks. This will give you a maintenance template for subsequent years.
	Ways to enhance the garden
		Garden Art Seating Edging Circulation Signs Seasonal additions