"Rain garden" - why should it be established?

23.10.2020

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The name 'rain garden' is quite rightly associated with rain and rainwater. It is a kind of an impressive flower bed, which at the same time serves as a retention tank. It is a simple and environmentally friendly way to manage rainwater, both rain and water from roofs, pavements, streets, driveways and other hardened surfaces. Rainwater, instead of flowing directly into the sewage system, is collected in a shallow garden basin, where it is retained by specially selected plants and slowly released back into the atmosphere. In this way we preserve the natural water cycle in nature, which entails numerous benefits for nature and for ourselves.

Why do we need a rain garden?

A rain garden can collect and retain up to 40% more water than a lawn of similar size. As a result, it helps to keep the soil and air moist. During periods of heat and drought they provide a reservoir of water for plants in the immediate vicinity. Evaporating water lowers the ambient temperature by up to several degrees, humidifies the air and improves its quality, providing a microclimate beneficial to health. Additionally, it increases biodiversity in our surroundings, which naturally stimulates our immune system and prevents civilisation-related diseases.

Thanks to the unique properties of hydrophytic plants planted in this type of gardens and the construction itself, a rain garden helps to purify water effectively. How does it work? Rainwater seeps through properly arranged layers of the garden, consisting of soil, cleaned sand and gravel, and collects around the roots and rhizomes of plants, which retain contaminants such as heavy metals. In addition, a specific environment is created around the roots in which micro-organisms develop, which are responsible for the water purification process. Thus, water without a significant amount of pollutants ends up in the ground or in the sewage system.

It pays off

Rain gardens make the management of rainwater not a problem and the rainwater itself becomes a valuable resource. It is enough to realise that we use on average 2.5 litres of water to water 1 m2 of garden. Providing plants with proper watering in a 100 m2 garden may cost us even PLN 900 a year. Small retention reservoirs in the form of beds with hydrophytic plants on our own plot will be good for our wallets.

Let's not forget about the visual side either. Plants planted in rain gardens, practically unheard of outside the wetlands, are eye-catching and even a small bed becomes an attractive decoration.

Simple to make, easy to care for.

A rain garden will need us mainly at the beginning. You will need to choose a suitable location and determine the type of soil (permeable or impermeable). In the next step we will have to gather materials and choose plants. The actual construction of the garden is not complicated and consists of digging out and sealing (or not, depending on the substrate) the basin, laying drainage pipes and creating an emergency drain if necessary, laying down layers of sand, gravel and soil and, of course, planting the plants. What happens next? Hydrophytic plants have a high resistance to drought and periodic flooding and will cope well without us for a long time. Regular drainage control, occasional replanting and removing dead plant parts are basically all the maintenance we will need to do to enjoy a beautiful and magnificent rain bed.

A safe solution

With all these advantages, rain gardens are becoming increasingly popular, not only in urban spaces but also among private property owners. However, the question often arises whether this solution is 100% safe. After all, it involves the construction of a water reservoir, the depth of which may reach even 90 cm. It is worth knowing that after ensuring proper outflow and building layers the water level in the rain garden is not high and reaches about 30 cm. Thanks to this, we do not have to worry about safety.

For people and for nature

Water resources in Poland are shrinking year by year. They already amount to one third of the average for European countries and one quarter of the average for countries worldwide. We are also at the tail end of the countries which are taking measures to promote proper retention. Meanwhile, experts point out that water is crucial when it comes to adapting to climate change. The water that "escapes" into the sewage system in no way supports natural processes. Fortunately, the problem has been recognised, and in Poland in recent years, after being particularly hard hit by extreme heat, drought and violent storms resulting, inter alia, from climate change, we have taken systematic action to prevent the country from 'drying out'. However, this is still a drop in the ocean of needs, so let's be eco-friendly, think about the future and set up rain gardens!

Worth knowing!

More and more municipalities offer subsidies for setting up a rain garden. For example, the Piaseczno commune, which is one of the favourite locations chosen by Novis Development clients, has allocated PLN 250 thousand for this purpose in 2020. The grants usually take the form of reimbursement of a part of the incurred costs and may be applied for by both natural and legal persons (e.g. housing communities and entrepreneurs).

Do you want to learn more about rain gardens, or maybe you are looking for inspiration? Take a look here and find out how to make your own garden in a few simple steps.