A Big Project: Time for a Rain Garden?

[snoozer]

Who knew adding a rain garden would trigger so much rain?

Can you call it a desert garden for a couple of weeks so the rain will stop? I need to cut the grass in the ditch but there's 4 inches of standing water.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Can you call it a desert garden for a couple of weeks so the rain will stop? I need to cut the grass in the ditch but there's 4 inches of standing water.

I'll have to try that. What an insane downpour over night. As expected, my rain garden could not handle it. Actually, even my yard couldn't. We're pretty flooded around here. Been a while since we've seen a rain like that one. I had no idea rain that heavy was coming. Wish it would've waited until after I installed my overflow exit.

 

[j.w]

We've stolen all your sunshine out west here and I hesitate to allow it to leave cuz I don't really want any rain just yet,sorry

 

[snoozer]

I'll have to try that. What an insane downpour over night. As expected, my rain garden could not handle it. Actually, even my yard couldn't. We're pretty flooded around here. Been a while since we've seen a rain like that one. I had no idea rain that heavy was coming. Wish it would've waited until after I installed my overflow exit.

Looks like you are getting dumped on right now. I can hear the thunder to the south.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Looks like you are getting dumped on right now. I can hear the thunder to the south.

Yeah, it's raining pretty good. Doesn't look like it'll last too long, but we'll see. Luckily, all the water in my rain garden had absorbed into the ground by about noon. I disconnected the one downspout and started the trench where my overflow drain will eventually go. It was just too muddy to do anything further today.

 

[EricV]

Hi @JBtheExplorer, how is your rain garden doing? Any tips? I'm thinking to build one in the spring and would start this fall by laying the tarp to kill the grass.

 

[Mmathis]

Hi @JBtheExplorer, how is your rain garden doing? Any tips? I'm thinking to build one in the spring and would start this fall by laying the tarp to kill the grass.

Ditto! We are moving to a different home (same zip), with a huge back yard and was thinking about adding a rain garden.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Haven't posted in this thread in a long time. Here's the rain garden now. Needs more grasses in it, but I'm pretty happy with it otherwise.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Ditto! We are moving to a different home (same zip), with a huge back yard and was thinking about adding a rain garden.

Hi @JBtheExplorer, how is your rain garden doing? Any tips? I'm thinking to build one in the spring and would start this fall by laying the tarp to kill the grass.

Obviously missed your posts.

Have you two added rain gardens yet, or are still considering?

 

[Tula]

Wow, a stunning success !!!!!

 

[EricV]

Obviously missed your posts.

Have you two added rain gardens yet, or are still considering?

Indeed, I did. Mine is probably 25' x 8-10', has three bushes and 100 plug plants in it and still looks very sparse. But I know in a year or two it will fill out a lot. Nothing but the bushes (chokeberry) has bloomed yet. During one serious rain event, it did overflow, otherwise it's held the water. I think in a year or two I will have a bit of re-leveling to do after things settle.

 

[GBBUDD]

Haven't posted in this thread in a long time. Here's the rain garden now. Needs more grasses in it, but I'm pretty happy with it otherwise.

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impressive jb looks great

 

[Lisak1]

Somehow I missed the progress photos on this @JBtheExplorer - it looks wonderful! What a difference a year makes in the garden!

 

[addy1]

Very nice, with as much rain as we have been getting we could have one. But not on my list at this time.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

A few weeks ago, I put together this slideshow of photos I've taken of the rain garden in 2019.