Iowa; Why a Rain Garden - Iowa State University

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Marion County Extension 1445 Lake Dr. PO Box 409 Knoxville, IA 50138 Phone (641)842-2014 Email:[email protected]

November, 2010 Volume 8, Issue 11

The

Green Scene
rain garden technically called a bio-retention cell. Because the natural soil in the area has been altered and compacted, a drain tile was installed in a gravel bed to ensure that the water from heavy rains moves through the gravel and sand. When a heavy rain occurs, the overflow of water will enter an inlet at the west end of the garden. This inlet is currently sticking up out of the ground but it will soon be cut down to nearly ground level and covered with a trap to prevent trash from entering. It is connected to the underground tile which runs west to east, sloping downward and ultimately connecting to the storm sewer. Water is slowly released via the drain tile, mimicking the way groundwater releases as it moves in natural soils. How can that really help? Won’t the water from the two streets still race to Competine? Yes, but not as much and that’s another point; every little bit helps. In addition, a cut-out in the Montgomery Street curb will channel storm water from the street into a second garden planned Inlet Pipe below the first. In the spring native plants will be installed that will further help retain the water and cause it to filter down through the soil. No matter where you live, adding a rain garden to your yard can help manage storm water runoff and better protect the water quality of our streams and lakes. Keep in mind that a rain garden is not a boggy area; rather it needs to be located where the water can easily flow. It should be located away from building foundations, utilities and septic systems. For more information go to www.rainscapingiowa.org/.

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Why a Rain Garden?

Rain gardens are one of the hottest new trends in gardening this year. Central College has added one to its campus and just last month Knoxville’s city and water utility crews began installing one on the east edge of town (where the old Maid-Rite once stood) in preparation for turning the property into a small park and welcome sign area. Why the big push for these specialized gardens? Think improved water quality for our city, state, and country. As cities and suburbs grow and replace forests and agricultural land, storm water runoff from parking lots, paved roads, roof tops and other hard surfaces increases dramatically. The runoff not only increases flooding, but perhaps more significantly, carries pollutants such as motor oil, chemicals, and trash into waterways such as Competine Creek, Lake Red Rock, the Mississippi, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. Slowing down the water and trapping it so that it must go down through the soil helps filter out those pollutants, much the way terraces and tiles work to slow down and direct water in corn and bean fields. The garden at the east end of Knoxville is a specialized

Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Jordan Wins 2010 BSB Garden Contest!
Each year Kathy Douglas of the Knoxville Federated Garden Club sponsors a contest for those who maintain plots at the Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden. The garden, located south of the Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, is divided into more than 40 plots. Each plot is maintained by an individual or group throughout the growing season. A committee from the Garden Club judges the plots periodically through the season and awards outstanding care and results at the end of summer. This year’s first place winner is Marolyn Jordan. Her plot #34 (pictured here) was deemed most attractive and well maintained throughout the spring and summer. Other winners include Dixie Roorda (beds 2&3), and Karin Graham (beds 19, 20 & 21). Ellie Davis, the Marion County Master Gardeners, Connie Israel, Rachel Cecil, Pam Burk, and Sherry Luedtke received Honorable Mentions. The committee awarded the “Most Improved Plot” award to Carol Kozac, Leta Burke, Jessica Moon, Nancy Geer & Barb Waters, Sandy Richardson, and Amy Chavez. The butterfly garden is open to the public throughout the year. It has been used for picnics (such as the one pictured at left for the Master Gardeners in August), weddings, and personal retreats. A big thank you to all the volunteers who make it such a pleasant place to visit.

November Checklist
√ Finish planting tulips. √ Dig your canna and other tender bulbs. Dry them for a week or so by putting them in a single layer on newspapers covering your garage floor. Store them in a cool dark place for the winter. √ Clean up all the diseases and insect-infested foliage and fruit from the garden and orchard to prevent further spread next year. √ Place wire netting or other protectors around young fruit trees in sections where rabbits and mice abound. √ There is still time to move or set out deciduous trees and shrubs. It’s late for evergreens. √ Don’t allow the lawn to go into winter with too much top growth. Two inches is plenty; more might be injurious by killing the roots and being difficult to mow in the spring. “The Green Scene” is a tip sheet developed by the Marion County Extension Office to inform people of horticulture events, problems, and interesting ideas. Let us know if you want to be added to our mailing list. Some issues are also available at www.extension.iastate.edu/marion/. This material has been prepared Karen Ackley, Agriculture Program Assistant. If you have questions, please contact the office at (641) 842-2014.
Sincerely, Dale R. Miller, County Extension Education Director

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