10,000 Rain Gardens Brochure

1. Clean water is important to each of
us as individuals, but water quality is
also a regional concern. And 10,000
Rain Gardens is a regional effort
dedicated to educating citizens
For more information about rain gardens,
about what each of us does
including current events,
please visit www.rainkc.com. to improve water quality
and manage stormwater on
What else can I do? personal and community property.
• Save the rain for a sunny day. A rain barrel connected
to your downspout—also known as a rain bank—is a great way to
keep stormwater out of the sewer system and to cut down your
water bill!
To learn about the
• Save money with reduced use of chemicals and
Wet Weather Solutions program,
fertilizers. Use proper application rates and the correct product
for your desired result.
go to kcmo.org/wetweather. An opportunity for the future.
• Save labor with less lawn. Mow less and at a higher The 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative was launched in November
setting to conserve fuel and have a healthier lawn. 2005 along with a comprehensive public education plan to
help citizens learn about their role in water quality. The “rain
• Be a Garden Angel. Donate to the 10,000 Rain Gardens
garden,” a shallow, basin-shaped garden filled with deep-
Field of Interest Fund. The fund
rooted grasses and flowers, became both the symbol and
purchases plants and materials
central project for the initiative.
for community rain gardens
at schools, churches and In the past two years, several hundred rain gardens as well as
low-income neighborhood rain barrels and bioswales have been installed and are working
parks. Contribute online at One hour of mowing to reduce runoff.
www.rainkc.com. with a 3.5 HP gas mower Butterfly Rain Garden Design
creates the same air by Dan Nelson, Embassy Landscape Group These personal efforts combined with commercial-sized green
• Register your rain
pollution as driving a Sunny Rain Garden Design solutions, such as green roofs, pervious pavement and bio-
garden at www.rainkc.
new car 340 miles! 63rd and Raytown Road, Raytown, MO swales, yield a powerful cumulative effect to reduce flood-
com. Together, we make a
by R. Peter Loughlin, Jr., ASLA, Loughlin Studios ing, erosion and pollutants in our rivers and streams. Working
difference!
Johnson County Offices Bioswale
Every drop matters. together, we will improve water quality and make a difference
by Judy Allmon, Bluestem Landscapes Every drop counts. now and for the future.

2. Creating your rain garden amend your rain garden’s soil (50-60% sand,
20-30% topsoil, 20-30% compost).
Rain gardens can be as beautiful as they are functional. In fact, Most important, disconnect your
many of our most beautiful regional plants need the type of regular downspouts from our sewer system
moisture found in a rain garden to thrive. and channel stormwater to rain gardens In Missouri, call
The moist soil of a rain garden supports vigorous growth from colorful and rain barrels. The smallest measures www.grownative.org
1-800-DIG-RITE
native plants like Marsh Milkweed, Garden Phlox and Blue Lobelia. add up and help improve our area’s www.mobot.org
management of stormwater. Remember, In Kansas, call
Native cultivars such as ‘Grand Parade’ Bee Balm, ‘Kobold’ Blazing Star
every drop matters, every drop counts! 1-800-DIG-SAFE www.rainkc.com
and ‘Kim’s Knee High’ or ‘Summer Sky’ Coneflowers are just a few
more to consider to increase aesthetics and length of bloom time. Once the size is determined, site your garden
To establish the size of your rain garden, calculate the square at least 10 feet away from your home’s foundation.
footage of the area where rain will runoff and divide by three. This Use a rope or garden hose to test different shapes Arranging your rain garden plants
will give you a rain garden that captures roughly 30% of the storm- for your garden’s footprint. Within the footprint of the rain
garden, create a slight depression by excavating six to 12 inches Select a rain garden design that suits your site, or create your own. Just
water it receives.
of soil. This also helps by removing existing vegetation. Mound this soil group your plants with height, color and seasonal bloom in mind.
For rain gardens attached to downspouts, there are two addition- in a shallow berm on the down side of the garden. • Think bold. Moisture-loving plants will grow taller and more robustly
al steps. For example, take a 1,000 square-foot roof panel with two
so allow for plants to grow up, fill out and have room. If your garden is
downspouts, one of which is connected to your rain garden. Divide
smaller in scale, consider native cultivars with more compact habits.
1,000 square feet (the square footage) by two (the number of down-
spouts). Multiply by one (the number of downspouts connected to • Don’t forget your greens. Native grasses, rushes and sedges provide
your rain garden) and then divide by three to discover you should have structure and textural contrast as well as year-round interest.
a 167 square foot rain garden to treat the stormwater from one of the
two downspouts channeled to your rain garden. • Plan for change. Get extra zip from any garden design
by planning for a change of color scheme as seasons change.
To calculate the number of plants planted on 18” centers, divide
167 (the square footage of this area) by 2.25 to find 74 plants. If your If you’re not sure about how to select plants, or how to design, site
soil is extremely compacted or has a high clay content, double your and install your rain garden, don’t worry. There are a number of
local, qualified professionals who specialize in native landscape Legend
square footage figure and increase the size of your rain garden, OR
design, installation and maintenance. Visit www.rainkc.com for help. CF – Cardinal Flower
BL – Blue Lobelia
MM – Marsh Milkweed
SBF – Southern Blue Flag
MF – Mist Flower
SG – Showy Goldenrod
NA – New England Aster
PC – Purple Coneflower
Note: RV – Rose Verbena
Each square EB – Eastern Blazing Star
is 2' x 2' L – Lantana or Coreopsis
Scale: Heavy Metal Switch
1" = 20" Tussock Sage