Arlington, Virginia: One Rain Garden at a Time
Content
Ferns for a Rain Garden
Water-loving native ferns can be planted as borders near the periphery of the garden, where there are no trees or shrubs. The following native species can thrive in the damp conditions, quickly process the ground water, and transpire ground water into the atmosphere. As with other plant categories use the botanical name when researching on the internet or in a book and when purchasing. Azolla palmatum Mosquito Fern Cystopteris bulbifera Bulblet Fern Dryopteris goldiana Log Fern Dryoperis clintonia Clinton’s Wood Fern Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Osmunda cinnemomea Cinnamon Fern Thelypteris palustra Marsh Fern
Raingarden Resources
RainGarden Design and Construction: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/raingarde nbk.pdf http://www.novaregion.org and search for “raingarden” http://raingardens.org/docs/Create_A_Rain_G arden.pdf http://www.cwp.org/Community_Watersheds/b rochure.pdf http://www.raingardens.org/Index.php http://www.dof.virginia.gov/mgt/resources/pubRain-Garden-Tech-Guide_2008-05.pdf
Controlling Stormwater, Improving Our Lives
Rain Water Harvesting
NoVa Regional Rain Barrel program:
http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm
One Rain Garden at a Time
http://www.rainwatermanagement.com http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Center_ Docs/Residential/rainbarrelgarden.pdf http://rainbarrelguide.com/ http://www.watersavers.com/
Special thanks to the City of Falls Church Stream Stewards, who created the original version of this brochure.
What is a Raingarden?
A rain garden is a low-lying area with specially-prepared soils and selected native plants that serves to absorb rainwater runoff from surrounding rooftops, paved surfaces, and lawn.
Trees for a Rain Garden
Plant native trees around the perimeter of the garden. These trees will absorb huge quantities of water from your yard. Search the botanical name on the internet and find out the ultimate mature size and characteristics of the following species before selecting one or more to plant. When purchasing a tree, use only the botanical name, and do not allow the nursery to talk you into a substitute. Betula nigra – River Birch Carpinus carolinia American Hornbeam Ilex opaca American Holly Magnolia virginiana – Sweetbay Magnolia Nyssa sylvatica Tupelo Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak Salix discolor Pussy Willow
Shrubs for a Rain Garden
Plant native shrubs in the middle of the rain garden. Each of the shrubs listed below will absorb a lot of water. Choose the species according to your aesthetic interests. Each has different colored leaves and flowers. Search the botanical name on the internet for further information. When purchasing a shrub, use only the botanical name and do not let the nursery talk you into substitutions. Aronia abutifolia Red Chokeberry Calycanthus floridus Sweetshrub Clethra alnifolia Summersweet Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Ilex glabra Inkberry Ilex vertilulata Winterberry Itea virginica Sweetspire Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum
How To Prepare the Garden
Select a low area away from your home where water normally flows. On a flat yard, artificially create a low area. Mark that area for the garden. The larger the area, the more water you can control. Dig out the marked area to a depth of at least 2 feet. Deeper is better. Add to the soil leaf mulch or other composted organic matter. For detailed instructions, go to the following websites:
RainGarden Design and Construction: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/raingardenb k.pdf http://www.novaregion.org and search for “raingarden” www.raingarden.org
Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress
Water-loving native ferns can be planted as borders near the periphery of the garden, where there are no trees or shrubs. The following native species can thrive in the damp conditions, quickly process the ground water, and transpire ground water into the atmosphere. As with other plant categories use the botanical name when researching on the internet or in a book and when purchasing. Azolla palmatum Mosquito Fern Cystopteris bulbifera Bulblet Fern Dryopteris goldiana Log Fern Dryoperis clintonia Clinton’s Wood Fern Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Osmunda regalis Royal Fern Osmunda cinnemomea Cinnamon Fern Thelypteris palustra Marsh Fern
Raingarden Resources
RainGarden Design and Construction: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/raingarde nbk.pdf http://www.novaregion.org and search for “raingarden” http://raingardens.org/docs/Create_A_Rain_G arden.pdf http://www.cwp.org/Community_Watersheds/b rochure.pdf http://www.raingardens.org/Index.php http://www.dof.virginia.gov/mgt/resources/pubRain-Garden-Tech-Guide_2008-05.pdf
Controlling Stormwater, Improving Our Lives
Rain Water Harvesting
NoVa Regional Rain Barrel program:
http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.htm
One Rain Garden at a Time
http://www.rainwatermanagement.com http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Center_ Docs/Residential/rainbarrelgarden.pdf http://rainbarrelguide.com/ http://www.watersavers.com/
Special thanks to the City of Falls Church Stream Stewards, who created the original version of this brochure.
What is a Raingarden?
A rain garden is a low-lying area with specially-prepared soils and selected native plants that serves to absorb rainwater runoff from surrounding rooftops, paved surfaces, and lawn.
Trees for a Rain Garden
Plant native trees around the perimeter of the garden. These trees will absorb huge quantities of water from your yard. Search the botanical name on the internet and find out the ultimate mature size and characteristics of the following species before selecting one or more to plant. When purchasing a tree, use only the botanical name, and do not allow the nursery to talk you into a substitute. Betula nigra – River Birch Carpinus carolinia American Hornbeam Ilex opaca American Holly Magnolia virginiana – Sweetbay Magnolia Nyssa sylvatica Tupelo Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak Salix discolor Pussy Willow
Shrubs for a Rain Garden
Plant native shrubs in the middle of the rain garden. Each of the shrubs listed below will absorb a lot of water. Choose the species according to your aesthetic interests. Each has different colored leaves and flowers. Search the botanical name on the internet for further information. When purchasing a shrub, use only the botanical name and do not let the nursery talk you into substitutions. Aronia abutifolia Red Chokeberry Calycanthus floridus Sweetshrub Clethra alnifolia Summersweet Cornus amomum Silky Dogwood Ilex glabra Inkberry Ilex vertilulata Winterberry Itea virginica Sweetspire Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum
How To Prepare the Garden
Select a low area away from your home where water normally flows. On a flat yard, artificially create a low area. Mark that area for the garden. The larger the area, the more water you can control. Dig out the marked area to a depth of at least 2 feet. Deeper is better. Add to the soil leaf mulch or other composted organic matter. For detailed instructions, go to the following websites:
RainGarden Design and Construction: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/raingardenb k.pdf http://www.novaregion.org and search for “raingarden” www.raingarden.org
Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress
