raIN GARDENS, INVASIVE SPECIES AND TURF REMOVAL
What is a rain garden?
Rain gardens are depressions in the Earth that collect rainwater from downspouts and hardscapes to help slow the absorption into the ground and limit runoff into stormwater drains.
WHY?
Excessive runoff is responsible for an increase in chemicals and pollutants finding their way into our water supply and surrounding lakes, streams and oceans. Not only are the pollutants detrimental to water quality, but the warm runoff water is dangerous for the health of aquatic creatures as well. As the stormwater flows along roadways it collects automotive fluids, fertilizers and pesticides. Limiting runoff helps prevent water in roadways and stress to our water treatment facilities. It also helps to prevent contamination of surrounding bodies of water. Many municipalities are encouraging home and business owners to install these gardens, some even offer grants.
WHERE?
Rain gardens should be sited at least 10’ from structures with a basement to prevent water from standing too close to the foundation and potentially seeping into buildings. Rain gardens should also be placed in areas with a gentle slope where water can collect.
A common misconception is the placement. Rain gardens are not meant to be water gardens or hold standing water. It is important to select a site that is able to percolate the water down into the water table within a reasonable amount of time. Areas of compacted soil or spots where bedrock or ledge are close to the soil surface are not ideal. A test hole can be dug and monitored to ensure proper site selection.
HOW?
We’re glad you asked! Installing a rain garden is as easy as picking up the phone! At Smartyplants Design, our goal is help you make choices that benefit your family and your local environment. Please check out the following links to learn more!
Rain Gardens | CT NEMO Program (uconn.edu)
Microsoft PowerPoint - Planting Design_20101104_Hartford CT
RAIN GARDEN BENEFITS
Preventing stormwater runoff is made easier with the use of plants that are indigenous to your area. There are numerous attractive options including trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials.
Native plants make up the basis of our rain garden designs and for good reason. Native plants have deeper root systems that act as sponges to absorb rainwater. They are resilient and have evolved to tolerate our weather conditions with ease. Native plants also contribute to biodiversity; in an era of mass extinction, we can help our local wildlife by providing nesting and sheltering locations as well as pollen and seed sources.
Invasive species- what is the deal?!
Invasive species are plants that escaped captivity or in many cases, were purposely introduced as cultivated plants for aesthetic purposes but after a period of time were discovered to be invasive. When we call a plant invasive it has proven itself to be a problem. Invasive species grow faster than the native plants occupying a particular area and they do not co-exist, they grow over and choke out our native species which has a traceable effect all the way up the food chain. When there aren’t enough native plants to support insects, there won’t be enough insects to support birds and wildlife, and then these species abandon the area in search of sufficient sustenance. We know we are in the midst of the next mass extinction event, aptly named for the humans that are causing it. The Anthropocene Epoch may be underway but we can do our best to mitigate the effects and support our local pollinators as long as we’re all still here.
*Why should I be concerned?
Many invasive species are prevalent in home gardens and can rapidly overgrow anything in its path.
Understanding the growth habit of invasive plants is key to determining how and when you should engage in management activities. Getting the timing right is crucial for addressing certain species. Some plants require manual removal before their flowers go to seed and proliferate. Some require patience as they need to be treated at the end of their growing season. This information is essential to successfully eradicating a problem plant.
Sometimes they don’t look problematic, perhaps your new house has a single specimen of a burning bush or Russian olive or barberry. Looks can be deceiving, just because it isn’t a massive mess or doesn’t appear to be overtaking the neighborhood doesn’t mean it isn’t quietly destroying the local ecosystem. Very often these plants will produce flowers and then small fruits, and this is one of the ways a single plant can cause an infestation that takes place acres or even miles away. Barberries are particularly notorious for taking over the understory layer of forested areas but there are numerous common garden plants capable of wreaking havoc in your neighborhood. Many are readily available at garden centers and it is up to the discerning shopper to learn what to avoid to reduce the spread of many invasive species.
*How do I know if I'm buying an invasive plant?
Many ornamental plants that negatively impact your neighborhood are still readily available for purchase at local nurseries and garden centers. Unfortunately, it is up to the individual to do their own due diligence, capitalism has conquered the garden industry like all the others. It is up to us to make good choices and the professionals at Smartyplants Design are here to help.
Below is a short list of plants that you should avoid purchasing and consider removing from your property:
Barberries (Berberis species)
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus also E. a. ‘Compactus’)
Callery Pear trees (ALL) includes Bradford, Chanticleer, Cleveland Select (Pyrus calleryana)
Honeysuckle (all except L. sempervirens)
Wisteria
English Ivy
Vinca minor (groundcover)
UConn CT Invasive Plant Working Group
Why should I remove my lawn?
Turf space should be an area rug, not wall to wall carpet.
The number one water-consuming crop in America is turfgrass yet it yields no food and no benefit to wildlife. Per the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans use approximately 8 BILLION gallons of water daily for residential landscaping. That is more water than we use for drinking, clothes washing and showering combined. As water becomes a commodity and resources become depleted, we as a species need to adapt our habits and lifestyles.
Reducing the size of the turfspace in your yard can help conserve our most precious resource as well as reduce the reliance on chemicals for maintenance. Beyond the chemicals and water required to sustain lawns, they also require significant time and effort whereas the alternative, a native plant garden, will require little support once established. Gardens add significant value to your landscape and life. Imagine what you could do with the time or money you currently spend maintaining your lawn!
In addition to conserving resources, reducing turf space limits the amount of chemicals applied to the ground and reduces exposure to cancer causing toxins. American homeowners use up to 10x more pesticides and fertilizers on their lawns than most farmers use per acre. And lawns yield nothing edible, it is an ecological wasteland.
Pollution of groundwater is only one way we negatively affect the planet with our garden activites, another is the carbon emissions from gas powered equipment.
A Swedish study estimated that running a gas-powered lawnmower for one hour is the equivalent amount of carbon emissions to driving a car 100 miles.
A recent study completed in 2020 in Massachusetts determined that gas-powered equipment emitted more than 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the equivalent to the pollution of about 135,000 standard cars.
It is the responsibility of each and every one of us engaging in garden activities to ensure we are utilizing best practices and making wise choices for the future of the planet and all its occupants.
