This document provides an introduction to and overview of rain gardens for Central Florida residents. It discusses how rain gardens can help reduce stormwater runoff from properties by capturing and filtering rainwater before it flows into local water bodies. The document also contains sections on properly sizing and placing a rain garden, constructing one, choosing suitable plants, and maintaining a rain garden over time. The goal is to educate homeowners on how to design, install, and care for a rain garden in their own landscape to help protect local water resources.
Florida Rain Gardens: Your Personal Contribution to Clean WaterSotirakou964
This document provides guidance for homeowners on designing and installing a rain garden. Rain gardens are landscaped areas planted with native plants that capture rainwater running off of roofs, driveways and other surfaces. They allow 30% more water to soak into the ground compared to a lawn, reducing stormwater runoff. Rain gardens provide multiple benefits, including recharging groundwater, reducing flooding, and filtering pollutants from rainwater before it reaches streams, lakes and other bodies of water. The document outlines the steps for siting, designing, building and maintaining a rain garden to help improve water quality and the environment.
Central Florida Rain Garden Manual ~ University of Florida
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
2nd Quarter 2010 the Rain Gardner Newsletter, Central OhioSotirakou964
The document discusses the Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative (CORGI) and its efforts to promote rain gardens in central Ohio. It provides an update on the number and size of rain gardens installed in recent years, bringing the total to over 100 gardens capturing nearly 4 million gallons of stormwater annually. Upcoming CORGI events are also listed. The largest rain garden installed was 7,000 square feet while the smallest was 37 square feet. Finally, the document highlights the Gay Street rain garden project in Columbus as a featured example of how rain gardens can be incorporated into urban infrastructure projects.
MT: Planting a Successful Home Vegetable GardenSotirakou964
This document provides a summary and guide for planting a successful home vegetable garden. It includes information on planting at the right time based on crop hardiness, organizing the garden layout, growing transplants, and a table with details on 40 common vegetables like days to maturity, planting depth and spacing, yields, and germination temperatures. The table is designed to help gardeners select which vegetables to plant to have a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
Minnesota: Effects of Rain Gardens on Water QualitySotirakou964
This document describes a study of 5 rain garden sites in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area from 2002-2004. The study aimed to evaluate how rain gardens affect the quality of surface and subsurface water. Samples were collected and analyzed for parameters like suspended solids, nutrients, and ions to understand how concentrations changed as runoff moved through the rain gardens. Preliminary results indicated that properly designed rain gardens can enhance infiltration and reduce dissolved ion concentrations compared to background levels. However, long-term data on rain garden effectiveness is still limited given that most were recently constructed.
This document provides a selection of heirloom vegetable cultivars that may do well in Montana gardens. It lists several heirloom varieties of beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and corn along with their estimated season lengths, years of introduction, and origins. The varieties listed are open-pollinated and adapted to local growing conditions in Montana.
Santa Monica CA Rainwater Harvesting ManualSotirakou964
This document provides an introduction and overview of the City of Culver City's Rainwater Harvesting Program. The program aims to help homeowners capture rainwater from their roofs and redirect it to on-site pervious areas or rain barrels to reduce stormwater runoff. Harvesting rainwater provides benefits such as protecting water resources, reducing energy demands, practicing water conservation, and recharging groundwater supplies. The document outlines options for redirecting rainwater and provides guidance on assessing sites, measuring slopes, and installing rain barrels or building rain gardens to harvest rainwater on one's own property.
This document discusses the history and forms of water harvesting. It begins by providing context on water harvesting's past role in agriculture and recent renewed interest. It then describes six main forms of water harvesting: 1) roof top, 2) for animal consumption, 3) inter-row, 4) microcatchment, 5) medium-sized catchment, and 6) large catchment. Each form is characterized by parameters like catchment area, cropping area, precipitation levels, and slope. The goal of water harvesting is to increase plant production in dry areas by concentrating rainfall runoff.
Florida Rain Gardens: Your Personal Contribution to Clean WaterSotirakou964
This document provides guidance for homeowners on designing and installing a rain garden. Rain gardens are landscaped areas planted with native plants that capture rainwater running off of roofs, driveways and other surfaces. They allow 30% more water to soak into the ground compared to a lawn, reducing stormwater runoff. Rain gardens provide multiple benefits, including recharging groundwater, reducing flooding, and filtering pollutants from rainwater before it reaches streams, lakes and other bodies of water. The document outlines the steps for siting, designing, building and maintaining a rain garden to help improve water quality and the environment.
Central Florida Rain Garden Manual ~ University of Florida
`
For more information, Please see websites below:
`
Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
`
Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
`
Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
`
Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
2nd Quarter 2010 the Rain Gardner Newsletter, Central OhioSotirakou964
The document discusses the Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative (CORGI) and its efforts to promote rain gardens in central Ohio. It provides an update on the number and size of rain gardens installed in recent years, bringing the total to over 100 gardens capturing nearly 4 million gallons of stormwater annually. Upcoming CORGI events are also listed. The largest rain garden installed was 7,000 square feet while the smallest was 37 square feet. Finally, the document highlights the Gay Street rain garden project in Columbus as a featured example of how rain gardens can be incorporated into urban infrastructure projects.
MT: Planting a Successful Home Vegetable GardenSotirakou964
This document provides a summary and guide for planting a successful home vegetable garden. It includes information on planting at the right time based on crop hardiness, organizing the garden layout, growing transplants, and a table with details on 40 common vegetables like days to maturity, planting depth and spacing, yields, and germination temperatures. The table is designed to help gardeners select which vegetables to plant to have a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
Minnesota: Effects of Rain Gardens on Water QualitySotirakou964
This document describes a study of 5 rain garden sites in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area from 2002-2004. The study aimed to evaluate how rain gardens affect the quality of surface and subsurface water. Samples were collected and analyzed for parameters like suspended solids, nutrients, and ions to understand how concentrations changed as runoff moved through the rain gardens. Preliminary results indicated that properly designed rain gardens can enhance infiltration and reduce dissolved ion concentrations compared to background levels. However, long-term data on rain garden effectiveness is still limited given that most were recently constructed.
This document provides a selection of heirloom vegetable cultivars that may do well in Montana gardens. It lists several heirloom varieties of beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and corn along with their estimated season lengths, years of introduction, and origins. The varieties listed are open-pollinated and adapted to local growing conditions in Montana.
Santa Monica CA Rainwater Harvesting ManualSotirakou964
This document provides an introduction and overview of the City of Culver City's Rainwater Harvesting Program. The program aims to help homeowners capture rainwater from their roofs and redirect it to on-site pervious areas or rain barrels to reduce stormwater runoff. Harvesting rainwater provides benefits such as protecting water resources, reducing energy demands, practicing water conservation, and recharging groundwater supplies. The document outlines options for redirecting rainwater and provides guidance on assessing sites, measuring slopes, and installing rain barrels or building rain gardens to harvest rainwater on one's own property.
This document discusses the history and forms of water harvesting. It begins by providing context on water harvesting's past role in agriculture and recent renewed interest. It then describes six main forms of water harvesting: 1) roof top, 2) for animal consumption, 3) inter-row, 4) microcatchment, 5) medium-sized catchment, and 6) large catchment. Each form is characterized by parameters like catchment area, cropping area, precipitation levels, and slope. The goal of water harvesting is to increase plant production in dry areas by concentrating rainfall runoff.
This document summarizes information about Rancho Arroyo Grande, a 9,750 acre ranch located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in California. The ranch currently uses around 500-2,000 acres for winter grain and summer bean crops, and could support additional crops and agriculture due to its climate and water resources. Parts of the ranch border Lopez Lake Recreation Area and Leg Padres National Forest. There have been studies exploring developing some areas of the ranch for recreational lodges, cabins and campsites that could be owned by a member group and support continued shared ranching and farming operations. The ranch was appraised at $4.4 million in 1972 and $5.5 million in 1978, equivalent to $564
Droughts regularly occur in the Sahel region of Africa, including Chad. The drought from 1969-1973 had a significant impact on Lake Chad, reducing its surface area from about 22,000 square kilometers to 7,000 square kilometers. This caused the northern part of the lake to dry up. The drought benefited fishermen as they were able to catch more fish, with catches increasing from 8,790 tonnes to 26,862 tonnes in the northern part of the lake.
The drought in central valley of California has lasted about four years due to lack of rain and overuse of water. The city of Fresno implemented water conservation regulations like watering schedules and household water use limits. Agriculture in Fresno has been impacted, with farmers having to reduce crop amounts. If rain does not come soon, the water shortage will worsen.
The document discusses drought as a natural disaster and its impacts on land and human society. It notes that increased human demand for land and water resources exacerbates drought risk. It states that remote sensing data is vital for evaluating and identifying drought trends, especially in arid or semi-arid lands where few meteorology stations exist or in remote desert areas without stations. The document discusses using thermal and vegetation indices from remote sensing to study drought.
Exploring What a Drought Is Essay
Essay on Drought as a Natural Disaster
California Drought Essay
Persuasive Essay On Drought
Essay Effects on Drought
Droughts in Chad Essay
Central Valley Drought
Essay On California Drought
Implementation of a Wind Powered Pumping System in PanamaAxel Martínez Nieto
This Case Study, describes the process of implementation and some results of a Wind Powered Pumping System in Panama, also describes the drought scenario suffered in Panama due to meteorological effects of El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This document was made for the Water, Climate and Development Program of Global Water Partnership Central America (GWP).
H u m a n Ecology, Vol. 18, No. 1, 1990 The Tragedy of th.docxwhittemorelucilla
H u m a n Ecology, Vol. 18, No. 1, 1990
The Tragedy of the Commons:
Twenty-Two Years Later
D a v i d F e e n y , 1 F i k r e t B e r k e s , 2 B o n n i e J. M c C a y , 3 a n d J a m e s M . A c h e s o n 4
H a r d i n ' s Tragedy o f the C o m m o n s m o d e l p r e d i c t s the e v e n t u a l overexploi-
tation or degradation o f a l l resources u s e d in c o m m o n . Given this unambig-
u o u s prediction, a surprising n u m b e r o f cases exist in which users h a v e been
able to restrict access to the resource a n d establish rules a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s
f o r its sustainable use. To assess the evidence, we f i r s t d e f i n e c o m m o n -
p r o p e r t y resources a n d p r e s e n t a t a x o n o m y o f p r o p e r t y - r i g h t s regimes in
which such resources m a y be held. Evidence accumulated over the last twenty-
t w o y e a r s indicates that private, state, a n d c o m m u n a l p r o p e r t y are all p o t e n -
tially viable resource m a n a g e m e n t options. A m o r e c o m p l e t e t h e o r y than
H a r d i n ' s s h o u l d incorporate institutional a r r a n g e m e n t s a n d cultural f a c t o r s
to p r o v i d e f o r b e t t e r analysis a n d p r e d i c t i o n .
KEY WORDS: co-management; common property; fisheries; forests; grazing lands; sustain-
able development; water resources; wildlife.
It was twenty years ago today; Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
(John Lennon and Paul McCartney (1967). Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts
Club Band. Northern Songs Ltd.).
I N T R O D U C T I O N
G a r r e t t H a r d i n ' s T h e Tragedy o f the C o m m o n s w a s p u b l i s h e d 2 2 y e a r s
a g o ( H a r d i n , 1968).. A l t h o u g h i t f o c u s e d a t t e n t i o n o n o v e r p o p u l a t i o n , t h e
~Departments of Economics and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster Universi-
ty, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M4 Canada.
ZInstitute of Urban and Environmental Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S
3A1 Canada.
3Departments of Human Ecology and Anthropology, Rutgers University, P.O. Box 231, New
Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.
4Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04460-0158.
i
0300-7839/90/0300-0001506.00/0 9 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation
2 Feeny, Berkes, McCay, and Acheson
d o m i n a n t legacy o f the p a p e r has been its m e t a p h o r o f c o m m o n - p r o p e r t y
resource management. In the intervening years, the ideas t h at H a r d i n popula-
rized have b e c o m e the m o s t widely accepted e x p l a n a t i o n f o r overexploita-
tion o f resources that are c o m m o n l y held. The essential idea was t h at resources
held in c o m m o n , such as oceans, rivers, air, a n d p ark l an d s, are subject t o
massive d e g r a d a t i o n . H a r d i n was neither alone n o r ...
Drought Research Paper
Central Valley Drought
Droughts in Chad Essay
California Drought Essay
Essay Effects on Drought
Drought Persuasive Essay
Essay On California Drought
Exploring What a Drought Is Essay
Drought has long been recognized as one of the most destructive natural disasters, claiming many victims annually. While usually associated with dry climates, drought can occur anywhere. The 1973 drought in Chad was particularly devastating, reducing GDP by 9% and livestock herds by half. Overgrazing and continuous cropping exacerbated the effects of the sharply lower rainfall. The drought had severe economic and social impacts, including population declines as people migrated in search of relief.
Paving Our Way to Water Shortages: How Sprawl Aggravates the Effects of DroughtFulvia52x
Sprawling development has significantly increased impervious surfaces across many regions of the US over the last 20 years. This has reduced groundwater recharge from rainfall by billions to tens of billions of gallons annually in major metropolitan areas. Less water soaking into the ground means lower aquifer and stream levels, impairing both water supplies and quality. Adopting smart growth practices can help reduce impervious cover from new development and better protect vulnerable water resources.
Desert Lab(1).PDF7 6 P a r t O n e G e o l o g y.docxtheodorelove43763
This document provides a three-phase timeline for the geological construction of Oregon:
Phase 1 (Foundation): Rocks from 400-50 million years old formed the foundation, including exotic terranes and batholiths and plutons that served as "mortar". Early sediments formed Oregon's first coast.
Phase 2 (Bricks and mortar): Younger volcanic and sedimentary rocks from 60-2 million years covered most of the foundation. Units included the Siletz terrane, an early volcanic arc, coastal sediments and volcanoes. The Columbia River Basalt flood erupted from the Yellowstone hotspot.
Phase 3 (Plaster and paint): Rocks from the last 15 million years shaped the
Water harvesting and development for improving productivity - Part 2Sotirakou964
This document provides information on rainwater harvesting techniques. It discusses roof harvesting where rainwater is collected from house roofs through gutters and pipes into storage tanks. The first water during rains should be diverted to flush dust and debris, while later water can be collected. Runoff harvesting and floodwater harvesting are also briefly mentioned as other rainwater collection methods. Guidelines are provided on roof cleaning, gutter sloping, and basic system designs to collect and store rainwater for domestic and agricultural use.
Stormwater planters are structures designed to capture, filter, and infiltrate or convey stormwater runoff. There are two main types: infiltration planters which allow water to seep into surrounding soils, and filtration planters which are lined to prevent infiltration and only cleanse stormwater before routing it to an approved disposal point. Planters provide stormwater management benefits and can be customized for different settings. They are sized based on the amount of runoff directed to them and factors like ponding depth and infiltration rate. Soils are typically amended to support plant life while allowing proper infiltration.
Santa Barbarba Sustainable Landscaping ManualSotirakou964
The document provides guidance on sustainable landscaping for homeowners in Santa Barbara County. It discusses planning a landscape that is resource efficient and reduces waste, which can save homeowners time and money while benefiting the environment. The key aspects of sustainable landscaping covered are reducing lawn areas, using water-efficient native plants, installing efficient irrigation, and designing functional outdoor spaces. Analyzing the site conditions and planning phases are emphasized as important first steps to having a sustainable landscape.
Sacaramento CA: Lawnless and Loving It ManualSotirakou964
This document discusses the benefits of removing lawns and replacing them with more sustainable landscaping options. It notes that lawns require large amounts of water and pesticides. Some alternatives to lawns mentioned include habitat gardens, edible gardens, meadows, rain gardens, rock gardens, and children's gardens planted with native species. Native plants are advocated because they are adapted to the local environment and provide benefits like requiring less water and maintenance than non-natives. Examples of lawn removal projects and their before and after appearances are also shown and described.
This document provides an introduction to conservation landscaping techniques like rain gardens and xeriscapes. It summarizes the philosophy and rationale for using native plants in landscaping to restore and protect local habitats. Examples are given from demonstration gardens at the Chesapeake Ecology Center, with plant lists and descriptions. The guide covers topics such as landscape design principles, how to plan and install conservation gardens, and lists of commonly used native trees and shrubs for the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. Its goal is to educate and inspire readers to adopt these practices in their own yards and communities.
Rainwater Tanks and Jars Construction Manual - Rainwater HarvestingSotirakou964
This document provides instructions for constructing cement rainwater jars and tanks. It discusses the materials needed, construction techniques, and installation of rainwater gutters. Rainwater collection is presented as a practical solution to water scarcity issues in rural and remote areas. The manual aims to promote rainwater harvesting at the household and community levels to improve access to safe water.
Green roofs, also known as living roofs, allow plants to grow on building roofs. They provide environmental benefits like reducing stormwater runoff and the urban heat island effect. While initially costly, green roofs last longer than traditional roofs and provide savings over time. When planning a green roof, homeowners should consider their roof's slope, climate conditions, and structural ability to support additional weight. Green roofs have multiple layers, including a waterproof membrane, drainage layer, lightweight growing media, and drought-tolerant plants. Proper planning and installation are needed to ensure a successful green roof.
This document provides an overview of natural insecticides that can be used in organic gardening. It describes several botanical insecticides including pyrethrum, sabadilla, rotenone, nicotine, and neem oil. The insecticides are derived from plants and have low toxicity to humans. The document provides instructions on safely applying natural insecticides, including only using them when needed, wearing protective equipment, thoroughly covering plants, and following label directions. It emphasizes using multiple pest control methods to keep insect populations low and reduce reliance on insecticides.
OR: Portland: Multnomah Building Green RoofSotirakou964
The document summarizes a green roof project on the Multnomah Building in Portland, Oregon. The 12,000 square foot green roof was intended to demonstrate the benefits of green roofs, including increased roof longevity, stormwater management through reduced runoff and pollution, and improved aesthetics. The total project cost was $343,000, with the green roof construction costing $179,801. Various organizations provided grants and materials to support the project as a demonstration of green roof technologies.
This document summarizes information about Rancho Arroyo Grande, a 9,750 acre ranch located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in California. The ranch currently uses around 500-2,000 acres for winter grain and summer bean crops, and could support additional crops and agriculture due to its climate and water resources. Parts of the ranch border Lopez Lake Recreation Area and Leg Padres National Forest. There have been studies exploring developing some areas of the ranch for recreational lodges, cabins and campsites that could be owned by a member group and support continued shared ranching and farming operations. The ranch was appraised at $4.4 million in 1972 and $5.5 million in 1978, equivalent to $564
Droughts regularly occur in the Sahel region of Africa, including Chad. The drought from 1969-1973 had a significant impact on Lake Chad, reducing its surface area from about 22,000 square kilometers to 7,000 square kilometers. This caused the northern part of the lake to dry up. The drought benefited fishermen as they were able to catch more fish, with catches increasing from 8,790 tonnes to 26,862 tonnes in the northern part of the lake.
The drought in central valley of California has lasted about four years due to lack of rain and overuse of water. The city of Fresno implemented water conservation regulations like watering schedules and household water use limits. Agriculture in Fresno has been impacted, with farmers having to reduce crop amounts. If rain does not come soon, the water shortage will worsen.
The document discusses drought as a natural disaster and its impacts on land and human society. It notes that increased human demand for land and water resources exacerbates drought risk. It states that remote sensing data is vital for evaluating and identifying drought trends, especially in arid or semi-arid lands where few meteorology stations exist or in remote desert areas without stations. The document discusses using thermal and vegetation indices from remote sensing to study drought.
Exploring What a Drought Is Essay
Essay on Drought as a Natural Disaster
California Drought Essay
Persuasive Essay On Drought
Essay Effects on Drought
Droughts in Chad Essay
Central Valley Drought
Essay On California Drought
Implementation of a Wind Powered Pumping System in PanamaAxel Martínez Nieto
This Case Study, describes the process of implementation and some results of a Wind Powered Pumping System in Panama, also describes the drought scenario suffered in Panama due to meteorological effects of El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This document was made for the Water, Climate and Development Program of Global Water Partnership Central America (GWP).
H u m a n Ecology, Vol. 18, No. 1, 1990 The Tragedy of th.docxwhittemorelucilla
H u m a n Ecology, Vol. 18, No. 1, 1990
The Tragedy of the Commons:
Twenty-Two Years Later
D a v i d F e e n y , 1 F i k r e t B e r k e s , 2 B o n n i e J. M c C a y , 3 a n d J a m e s M . A c h e s o n 4
H a r d i n ' s Tragedy o f the C o m m o n s m o d e l p r e d i c t s the e v e n t u a l overexploi-
tation or degradation o f a l l resources u s e d in c o m m o n . Given this unambig-
u o u s prediction, a surprising n u m b e r o f cases exist in which users h a v e been
able to restrict access to the resource a n d establish rules a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s
f o r its sustainable use. To assess the evidence, we f i r s t d e f i n e c o m m o n -
p r o p e r t y resources a n d p r e s e n t a t a x o n o m y o f p r o p e r t y - r i g h t s regimes in
which such resources m a y be held. Evidence accumulated over the last twenty-
t w o y e a r s indicates that private, state, a n d c o m m u n a l p r o p e r t y are all p o t e n -
tially viable resource m a n a g e m e n t options. A m o r e c o m p l e t e t h e o r y than
H a r d i n ' s s h o u l d incorporate institutional a r r a n g e m e n t s a n d cultural f a c t o r s
to p r o v i d e f o r b e t t e r analysis a n d p r e d i c t i o n .
KEY WORDS: co-management; common property; fisheries; forests; grazing lands; sustain-
able development; water resources; wildlife.
It was twenty years ago today; Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
(John Lennon and Paul McCartney (1967). Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts
Club Band. Northern Songs Ltd.).
I N T R O D U C T I O N
G a r r e t t H a r d i n ' s T h e Tragedy o f the C o m m o n s w a s p u b l i s h e d 2 2 y e a r s
a g o ( H a r d i n , 1968).. A l t h o u g h i t f o c u s e d a t t e n t i o n o n o v e r p o p u l a t i o n , t h e
~Departments of Economics and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster Universi-
ty, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M4 Canada.
ZInstitute of Urban and Environmental Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S
3A1 Canada.
3Departments of Human Ecology and Anthropology, Rutgers University, P.O. Box 231, New
Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.
4Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04460-0158.
i
0300-7839/90/0300-0001506.00/0 9 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation
2 Feeny, Berkes, McCay, and Acheson
d o m i n a n t legacy o f the p a p e r has been its m e t a p h o r o f c o m m o n - p r o p e r t y
resource management. In the intervening years, the ideas t h at H a r d i n popula-
rized have b e c o m e the m o s t widely accepted e x p l a n a t i o n f o r overexploita-
tion o f resources that are c o m m o n l y held. The essential idea was t h at resources
held in c o m m o n , such as oceans, rivers, air, a n d p ark l an d s, are subject t o
massive d e g r a d a t i o n . H a r d i n was neither alone n o r ...
Drought Research Paper
Central Valley Drought
Droughts in Chad Essay
California Drought Essay
Essay Effects on Drought
Drought Persuasive Essay
Essay On California Drought
Exploring What a Drought Is Essay
Drought has long been recognized as one of the most destructive natural disasters, claiming many victims annually. While usually associated with dry climates, drought can occur anywhere. The 1973 drought in Chad was particularly devastating, reducing GDP by 9% and livestock herds by half. Overgrazing and continuous cropping exacerbated the effects of the sharply lower rainfall. The drought had severe economic and social impacts, including population declines as people migrated in search of relief.
Paving Our Way to Water Shortages: How Sprawl Aggravates the Effects of DroughtFulvia52x
Sprawling development has significantly increased impervious surfaces across many regions of the US over the last 20 years. This has reduced groundwater recharge from rainfall by billions to tens of billions of gallons annually in major metropolitan areas. Less water soaking into the ground means lower aquifer and stream levels, impairing both water supplies and quality. Adopting smart growth practices can help reduce impervious cover from new development and better protect vulnerable water resources.
Desert Lab(1).PDF7 6 P a r t O n e G e o l o g y.docxtheodorelove43763
This document provides a three-phase timeline for the geological construction of Oregon:
Phase 1 (Foundation): Rocks from 400-50 million years old formed the foundation, including exotic terranes and batholiths and plutons that served as "mortar". Early sediments formed Oregon's first coast.
Phase 2 (Bricks and mortar): Younger volcanic and sedimentary rocks from 60-2 million years covered most of the foundation. Units included the Siletz terrane, an early volcanic arc, coastal sediments and volcanoes. The Columbia River Basalt flood erupted from the Yellowstone hotspot.
Phase 3 (Plaster and paint): Rocks from the last 15 million years shaped the
Water harvesting and development for improving productivity - Part 2Sotirakou964
This document provides information on rainwater harvesting techniques. It discusses roof harvesting where rainwater is collected from house roofs through gutters and pipes into storage tanks. The first water during rains should be diverted to flush dust and debris, while later water can be collected. Runoff harvesting and floodwater harvesting are also briefly mentioned as other rainwater collection methods. Guidelines are provided on roof cleaning, gutter sloping, and basic system designs to collect and store rainwater for domestic and agricultural use.
Stormwater planters are structures designed to capture, filter, and infiltrate or convey stormwater runoff. There are two main types: infiltration planters which allow water to seep into surrounding soils, and filtration planters which are lined to prevent infiltration and only cleanse stormwater before routing it to an approved disposal point. Planters provide stormwater management benefits and can be customized for different settings. They are sized based on the amount of runoff directed to them and factors like ponding depth and infiltration rate. Soils are typically amended to support plant life while allowing proper infiltration.
Santa Barbarba Sustainable Landscaping ManualSotirakou964
The document provides guidance on sustainable landscaping for homeowners in Santa Barbara County. It discusses planning a landscape that is resource efficient and reduces waste, which can save homeowners time and money while benefiting the environment. The key aspects of sustainable landscaping covered are reducing lawn areas, using water-efficient native plants, installing efficient irrigation, and designing functional outdoor spaces. Analyzing the site conditions and planning phases are emphasized as important first steps to having a sustainable landscape.
Sacaramento CA: Lawnless and Loving It ManualSotirakou964
This document discusses the benefits of removing lawns and replacing them with more sustainable landscaping options. It notes that lawns require large amounts of water and pesticides. Some alternatives to lawns mentioned include habitat gardens, edible gardens, meadows, rain gardens, rock gardens, and children's gardens planted with native species. Native plants are advocated because they are adapted to the local environment and provide benefits like requiring less water and maintenance than non-natives. Examples of lawn removal projects and their before and after appearances are also shown and described.
This document provides an introduction to conservation landscaping techniques like rain gardens and xeriscapes. It summarizes the philosophy and rationale for using native plants in landscaping to restore and protect local habitats. Examples are given from demonstration gardens at the Chesapeake Ecology Center, with plant lists and descriptions. The guide covers topics such as landscape design principles, how to plan and install conservation gardens, and lists of commonly used native trees and shrubs for the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. Its goal is to educate and inspire readers to adopt these practices in their own yards and communities.
Rainwater Tanks and Jars Construction Manual - Rainwater HarvestingSotirakou964
This document provides instructions for constructing cement rainwater jars and tanks. It discusses the materials needed, construction techniques, and installation of rainwater gutters. Rainwater collection is presented as a practical solution to water scarcity issues in rural and remote areas. The manual aims to promote rainwater harvesting at the household and community levels to improve access to safe water.
Green roofs, also known as living roofs, allow plants to grow on building roofs. They provide environmental benefits like reducing stormwater runoff and the urban heat island effect. While initially costly, green roofs last longer than traditional roofs and provide savings over time. When planning a green roof, homeowners should consider their roof's slope, climate conditions, and structural ability to support additional weight. Green roofs have multiple layers, including a waterproof membrane, drainage layer, lightweight growing media, and drought-tolerant plants. Proper planning and installation are needed to ensure a successful green roof.
This document provides an overview of natural insecticides that can be used in organic gardening. It describes several botanical insecticides including pyrethrum, sabadilla, rotenone, nicotine, and neem oil. The insecticides are derived from plants and have low toxicity to humans. The document provides instructions on safely applying natural insecticides, including only using them when needed, wearing protective equipment, thoroughly covering plants, and following label directions. It emphasizes using multiple pest control methods to keep insect populations low and reduce reliance on insecticides.
OR: Portland: Multnomah Building Green RoofSotirakou964
The document summarizes a green roof project on the Multnomah Building in Portland, Oregon. The 12,000 square foot green roof was intended to demonstrate the benefits of green roofs, including increased roof longevity, stormwater management through reduced runoff and pollution, and improved aesthetics. The total project cost was $343,000, with the green roof construction costing $179,801. Various organizations provided grants and materials to support the project as a demonstration of green roof technologies.
New York City: Rainwater Harvesting ManualSotirakou964
This document provides an introduction to rainwater harvesting systems. It discusses the history of rainwater harvesting around the world dating back thousands of years. It then describes the basic components of a rainwater harvesting system, including the roof, gutters, downspout, first flush system, storage tank, overflow pipe, and optional connections to a rain garden. Diagrams and photographs help illustrate the different parts of a typical system.
Los Angeles Rainwater Harvesting ManualSotirakou964
This document provides a homeowner's guide to harvesting rainwater in Los Angeles. It discusses the benefits of rainwater harvesting such as reducing pollution to local waterways, conserving water, and recharging groundwater. The guide describes various rainwater harvesting methods homeowners can implement, including redirecting downspouts to rain barrels or rain gardens. It provides step-by-step instructions for how to assess a site, measure slopes, and redirect downspouts. The guide also discusses plant selection and maintenance for rain gardens. Overall, the document aims to educate homeowners on simple rainwater harvesting techniques.
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This document provides a list of resources for bay friendly landscaping. It includes websites and organizations related to air quality, alternatives to pesticides, bay-friendly standards and trainings, beneficial insects, composting, erosion control, fire resistant plants, green businesses, greywater systems, and hazardous waste disposal. The list is intended to support professionals in implementing sustainable landscape practices.
La Plaza Garden CA: Water Efficient GardeningSotirakou964
This document provides information about La Plaza Garden, a water-efficient demonstration garden in Cotati, California. The garden uses various techniques like drought-tolerant plants, water harvesting, and habitat creation to conserve water and other resources. It includes seven distinct garden areas showcasing different techniques, plants, and habitats. The document also provides additional resources for water-efficient and native plant gardening.
This document provides a summary of key considerations for rainwater harvesting systems in small island Caribbean environments. It outlines the main components of a rainwater harvesting system including the catchment area, conveyance system, and storage. Formulas are provided to calculate the volume of water that can be captured from a roof catchment area. Guidelines aim to assist homeowners, contractors, and farmers in best practices for installing and operating rainwater harvesting systems.
An extensive green roof has less than six inches of growing medium and can support grasses and small shrubs, while an intensive green roof has 6-24 inches of medium and supports larger plants. A green roof absorbs up to half of rainfall and greatly increases roof insulation. Steps to install a green roof include adding a vapor barrier, insulation, waterproof membrane, drainage layer, growth medium, and selecting plants suited to the climate from a list provided. Cost is approximately $15-25 per square foot but reduces runoff and provides other benefits.
Waterbird Conservation for the AmericasSotirakou964
This document provides a framework for conserving waterbird populations throughout the Americas. It sets broad goals such as advocating continent-wide monitoring, regional conservation planning, and national/local action. The plan aims to weave together resources, science, and stakeholders to achieve sustainable waterbird populations and habitat management across their ranges. It emphasizes initial priorities like seabirds and colonial nesters in northern areas, with plans to expand coverage over time. Implementation will rely on partnerships across geographic and organizational boundaries to coordinate waterbird conservation efforts internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally throughout the Americas.
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The document is a teacher's guide for the AWARE Kids program, which aims to educate elementary school students about ocean conservation. It includes an introduction to the program, correlations to national science standards, lessons on topics like coral reefs and sea turtles, and hands-on activities. The guide is designed to integrate science, math, art and other subjects while teaching about underwater environments and conservation issues in an interactive way.
The document provides background information on a teachers guide and poster about stream ecosystems. It includes an introduction to the poster's depiction of a typical middle order stream and the species selected. It discusses the life cycles of frogs, insects, and mussels shown in the poster which involve metamorphosis. It also describes suggested classroom activities teachers can use with the poster, including having students draw life cycles, simulate ecosystem changes, or create imaginary rabbit metamorphosis. The guide concludes with discussions of food chains, energy use, nutrient recycling, and how adaptability to available food impacts species survival.
The document is a curriculum guide for teaching coldwater conservation and trout habitat education. It includes 17 activities to teach students about ecological concepts, hydrology, stream life, trout behavior and biology, human impacts on streams, and sustainable fishing practices. The guide is intended to complement fly fishing instruction by providing the scientific background on healthy trout habitats and how human activities can positively or negatively affect these habitats. It contains suggestions for how to use the guide, definitions of key terms, and references for additional teaching resources.
Understanding of Self - Applied Social Psychology - Psychology SuperNotesPsychoTech Services
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You may be stressed about revealing your cancer diagnosis to your child or children.
Children love stories and these often provide parents with a means of broaching tricky subjects and so the ‘The Secret Warrior’ book was especially written for CANSA TLC, by creative writer and social worker, Sally Ann Carter.
Find out more:
https://cansa.org.za/resources-to-help-share-a-parent-or-loved-ones-cancer-diagnosis-with-a-child/
As we navigate through the ebbs and flows of life, it is natural to experience moments of low motivation and dwindling passion for our goals.
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Aggression - Applied Social Psychology - Psychology SuperNotesPsychoTech Services
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Procrastination is a common challenge that many individuals face when it comes to completing tasks and achieving goals. It can hinder productivity and lead to feelings of stress and frustration.
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Best Way to Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity.pdf
Central Florida Rain Garden Manual
1.
2. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents i
This manual was produced by the University of Florida Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences Hillsborough County Extension Service, with
funding from the Florida Department of Transportation.
Written and edited by Dr. Marina D’Abreau.
Contributors: Dr. Gary Knox, Dr. Esen Momol and Suzanne Cooper.
Photos and other graphics contributed by Dr. Marina D’Abreau
and the Florida‐Friendly Landscaping™ Program.
First printing ‐ 2010.
Cover photo: Rain garden at the Bette S Walker Discovery Garden, UF‐IFAS
Hillsborough County Extension, Seffner, Florida.
3. ii
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Stormwater Runoff 101 3
Building a Rain Garden
Size and Placement 5
Construction 12
Plant Choices and Installation 15
Maintenance 18
Suggested Plant List for Rain Gardens 20
in Central Florida
References 25
4. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 1
Introduction
After decades of hearing environmental messages and increased
education and awareness, Floridians are recognizing the need to
protect our precious water resources from stormwater pollution.
Landscaping plays a major role in the capture and filtration of
stormwater runoff – rain or irrigation water that travels off our
yards into nearby surface ponds and stormwater drains.
One inch of rainfall can produce 16 times more runoff by volume on
a 1 acre parking lot than the same one inch of rainfall on a
completely vegetated area of equal size. A properly landscaped and
maintained yard can potentially reduce runoff by as much as 30
percent, compared to a yard with bare areas of exposed soil and
patchy landscaping. A rain garden is a type of landscaped area with
appropriate flowers, grasses and other vegetation that catches
rain water from a roofline or gutter system and filters it back into
the ground, where it can recharge groundwater resources.
So why are rain gardens important? As Florida cities grow and build,
replacing green spaces and natural areas with manicured lawns,
concrete sidewalks and asphalt pavement, there is an increase in
stormwater runoff. This often leads to increased urban flooding,
increased pollutants from yards, parking lots and streets, and
increased costs in municipal stormwater treatment systems. Rain
gardens help to reduce this stormwater runoff, and the more rain
gardens that are constructed in communities and neighborhoods,
the more significant the benefit. Rain gardens are a big part of the
Florida‐Friendly Landscaping™ concept.
Based on studies in other states, rain gardens have the ability to
filter approximately 40% of metal pollutants from roof shingles,
automobile fluids and soil. Approximately 15% of nitrogen from
fertilizers, pet waste and organic matter can by filtered by rain
gardens as well.
5. 2
Rain gardens have multiple functions. They recharge the local
aquifer by increasing the amount of water that filters into the
ground; reduce the amount of urban pollutants – fertilizer,
pesticides, car oil, etc. – that get carried away by stormwater runoff
and enter nearby surface water bodies; provide habitat for birds,
butterflies, and beneficial insects; and improve property value by
adding curb appeal to the landscape. Unlike bioretention areas, rain
gardens allow runoff to infiltrate the groundwater supply.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide homeowners with the
tools needed to design, install and maintain a rain garden in a
residential landscape. Many of the concepts can be transferred to
commercial sites as well, but care is needed in areas of very large
stormwater generation – like parking lots and paved areas – that
may need filtration prior to entering a rain garden.
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6. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 3
Stormwater Runoff 101
Water is the essence of life. In an average year, Florida receives
over 50 inches of rain water, especially during the summer months.
With more than 8,400 miles of tidal shoreline, 8,000 lakes, 20 major
rivers and estuaries, and the largest underground aquifer in the
United States, Florida has an abundance of water resources.
Yet, as Florida’s population grows, the demand for this water
continues to strain our natural resources. This is, in part, due to a
loss of natural green space and an increase of impervious surfaces
like rooftops, concrete and asphalt, which prevent rain water from
filtering back to our groundwater systems. Today, the leading threat
to Florida’s water resources and quality of this resource is nonpoint
source pollution.
Every time it rains, pollutants such as soil particles, pesticides,
fertilizers, oil, grass clipping and other waste travel over yards and
driveways in the form of stormwater runoff. This stormwater runoff
contributes to pollution in our surface waterways.
The good news? It can be controlled.
Reducing stormwater runoff from your property is simple. Following
these behaviors can make a difference, one step at a time…
Install and maintain a Florida‐Friendly Landscape that absorbs
runoff and allows it to filter back into the soil.
Choose drought‐tolerant plants that don’t need a lot of
irrigation.
Install practical areas of drought‐tolerant turf for play,
entertainment, pets, etc. Use ground covers as turf alternatives
in low traffic areas of the landscape.
Maintain 2”‐3” of mulch in plant beds to reduce erosion and
retain soil moisture, minimizing watering needs.
Water in the early morning hours to avoid water loss from wind
and evaporation.
7. 4
Follow local watering restrictions, and water only as needed.
Many Florida‐friendly plants, once established, can survive with
little supplemental irrigation.
Install low‐volume irrigation in plant beds to minimize overspray
and excess watering of plants.
Install a functioning rain shut‐off device on all irrigation systems
to avoid unnecessary watering.
Use a rain gauge to track rainfall and determine if supplemental
watering (on your assigned day) is necessary.
Use rain barrels or cisterns to collect rain water for landscape
irrigation. Rain barrels capture storm water runoff, reduce
erosion around the foundation of the house, and provide a free
source of water for your plants.
Install a rain garden.
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8. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 5
Building a Rain Garden
Step 1: Size and Placement
In many parts of the country, slope becomes an issue when
constructing a rain garden, but in Florida, that is rarely a problem.
Depending on the size of your lot, a rain garden can be placed near
the house to catch roof runoff or farther out in the yard to catch
runoff from the roof and the surrounding lawn area.
Keep the following guidelines in mind to help determine the best
place for your rain garden:
DOs DON’Ts
DO place your rain garden at DON’T place your rain garden
least 10 feet from the house to within 25 feet of a septic tank
prevent water from seeping or well.
into the foundation.
DO place your rain garden in DON’T cut large tree roots to
full sun, away from tree roots. make room for your rain
garden. This may severely
damage the tree.
DO choose an existing low spot DON’T choose a site that has
in your yard if it normally drains standing water. The purpose of
quickly after a heavy rain. a rain garden is to encourage
infiltration.
Before you begin, take a stroll around your property and make
some casual observations about the terrain. Consider your existing
landscape and how a rain garden will fit into the overall design,
while still being functional. Remember, a rain garden can be placed
in the front, side or back yard. It’s up to you.
In some Florida lots, the side yards are large and can be difficult to
maintain with healthy turfgrass. Consider “blurring” property lines
with your neighbor and construct a shared rain garden that
provides both homes with stormwater capture!
10. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 7
Regardless of the depth, the goal is to keep the garden level. This is
to ensure the most efficient collection and infiltration of water
without losing excess over the sides of the rain garden.
The slope of the area should determine the depth of the rain
garden. Find the slope of your lawn by following these steps:
1. Pound one stake in at the uphill end of your rain garden site
(typically the side closest to the house) and pound the other
stake in at the downhill end.
2. Tie a string to the bottom of the uphill stake and run the
string to the downhill stake.
3. Using a string level or the carpenter’s level, make the string
horizontal and tie the string to the downhill stake at that height.
4. Measure the distance (in inches) between the two stakes.
5. Now measure the height (in inches) on the downhill stake
between the ground and the string.
6. Divide the height by the distance and multiply the result by
100 to find the area’s percent slope. If the slope is greater than
12%, it’s best to find another site or talk to a professional
landscaper.
11. 8
Using the slope of the area, select the depth of the rain garden from
the following options:
• If the slope is less than 4%, build a 3 to 5‐inch deep rain
garden.
• If the slope is between 5% and 7%, build a 6 to 7‐inch deep
rain garden.
• If the slope is between 8% and 12%, build an 8‐inch deep rain
garden.
What type(s) of soil do I have?
After choosing your rain garden depth, identify the area’s soil type.
Sandy soils have the fastest infiltration; clay soils have the slowest.
Since clay soils take longer to absorb water, rain gardens in this type
of soil must be larger than rain gardens in sand or silt. If the soil
feels very gritty and coarse, you probably have sandy soil.
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12. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 9
Two quick tests can ensure your soil will handle a rain garden:
1. Dig a hole about 6 inches deep where the rain garden will be
located and fill the hole with water. If the water takes more
than 24 hours to soak in, the soil is not suitable for a rain
garden.
2. Take a handful of soil and
dampen it with a few drops of
water. After kneading the soil
in your fingers, squeeze the
soil into a ball. If it remains in
a ball, then work the soil
between your forefinger and
thumb, squeezing it upward
into a ribbon of uniform
thickness. Allow the ribbon to
emerge and extend over the
forefinger until it breaks from
its own weight. If the soil
forms a ribbon more than an Source: Michigan State University Extension
inch long before it breaks, and it also feels more smooth (clay)
than gritty (sand), the soil is not suitable for a rain garden.
The USDA Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCS) has an
online Web Soil Survey tool that allows you to narrow in on your
specific neighborhood to determine the type of soil there
(http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx).
However, the soil on a small plot of a yard can be very different
from the soils indicated on the map. Use the simple soil test
described above for a more accurate representation of the soils in
the possible rain garden location.
How large an area will drain into my rain garden?
The next step in choosing your rain garden size is to find the area
that will drain to the rain garden. As the size of the drainage area
increases, so should the size of the rain garden. There is some
13. 10
guesswork in determining the size of a drainage area, so use the
following suggestions to estimate the drainage area without
spending a lot of time.
Rain gardens within 30 feet from the water source
(usually a downspout)
1. When the rain garden is close to the house, almost all the
water will come from the roof downspout. Walk around the
house and estimate what percent of the roof feeds to that
downspout. Many houses have four downspouts, each taking
about 25% of the roof’s runoff.
2. Calculate your home’s footprint, or the area of the first floor.
If you don’t already know it, use a tape measure to find your
house’s length and width. Multiply the two together to find the
approximate area of your roof.
3. Finally, multiply the roof area by the estimated percent of the
roof that feeds to the rain garden downspout. This is the roof
drainage area.
Rain gardens greater than 30 feet from the water source
1. If there is a significant area of ground uphill that will also
drain to the rain garden, add this area to the roof drainage area.
First find the roof drainage area using the steps above for a rain
garden to be placed less than 30 feet from the downspout.
2. Find the area of the ground that will drain to the rain garden.
Stand where your rain garden will be and look up toward the
house. Estimate the part of the lawn sloping into the rain
garden.
3. Measure the length and width of the uphill ground, and
multiply to find the area.
4. Add the uphill area to the roof drainage area to find the total
drainage area.
14. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 11
Determining the size of my rain garden
Now that you’ve figured out the depth of the garden, the soil type
and the drainage area, you can calculate the surface area of the rain
garden. The first step is to determine your size factor, based on one
of the two tables below.
Table 1: Size factors for rain gardens within 30 feet of the water source
Soil Type 3‐5 inches 6‐7 inches 8 inches deep
deep deep
Sand 0.19 0.15 0.08
Silt 0.34 0.25 0.16
Clay 0.43 0.32 0.20
Table 2: Size factors for rain gardens greater than 30 feet from the water source
Soil Type Size Factor (regardless of depth)
Sand 0.03
Silt 0.06
Clay 0.10
Once you know your size factor, multiply it by the drainage area.
The result will be the recommended area for your rain garden. If
this number is greater than 300 ft2, divide it up into smaller, more
manageable rain gardens. For each of the smaller rain gardens,
consider choosing plants with similar colors, shapes or textures to
create harmony in the design and layout of the garden.
15. 12
Building a Rain Garden
Step 2: Construction
Before you begin construction of your rain garden, you’ll need a few
tools:
Tape measure Trowels
Shovels Carpenter’s level
Rakes Wood stakes (at least 2’ long)
If you plan on building your rain barrel in an area with lawn or
weeds, you will first need to remove the existing vegetation. The
most environmentally friendly option is to cover the area with black
plastic or numerous layers of newspaper and give the plants below
a few months to die. Then the dead vegetation can be dug up and
removed.
A faster option would be to spray an herbicide containing
glyphosate to kill the vegetation within a few days. However, do not
spray chemicals if the wind is greater than 5 mph, if rain is forecast
within 24 hours or if there is a chance of runoff to a nearby water
body.
Digging the Rain Garden
Before you start digging, make two phone calls. The first should be
to the Sunshine State One Call of Florida, Inc. line (811) to have your
underground utility lines marked for free. The second call should be
to your friends, asking them to help with your rain garden project.
Begin by laying string or a hose in the desired shape of the garden.
Next, put stakes along the uphill and downhill sides, lining them up
so that each uphill stake has a stake directly downhill. Place one
stake every 5 feet along the length of the rain garden.
Start at one end of the rain garden and tie a string to the uphill
stake at ground level. Tie it to the stake directly downhill so that the
16. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 13
string is level. Work in 5‐foot‐wide sections, with only one string at
a time.
Start digging at the uphill side of the string. Measure down from the
string and dig until you reach the desired depth of the rain garden.
If the rain garden will be four inches deep, then dig four inches
down from the string.
If the area is almost flat, you will be digging at the same depth
throughout the rain garden. If the area is steeper, the high end of
the rain garden will need to be dug out noticeably more than the
low end, and some of the soil from the upper end can be used in
the lower end to make the rain garden level. Continue digging and
filling one section at a time across the length of your rain garden
until it is as level as possible.
Water flowing into the rain garden will naturally try to run off the
downhill edge. A berm is needed to keep the water in the garden.
The berm is a “wall” across the bottom and up the sides of the rain
garden. The berm will need to be highest at the downhill side. Up
the sides of the rain garden, the berm will become lower and
gradually taper off at the top of the rain garden.
17. 14
If you plan on mixing in compost to help get the plants established
faster, now is the time to do so. Dig the garden at least one inch
deeper than originally planned and add a two‐inch layer of compost
along the entire bottom of the garden. If handy, use a tiller to mix in
the compost, but this is not necessary.
Compost is organic matter, and it is a wonderful amendment to soil
for all plants. Organic matter increases the water holding capacity
as well as the nutrient content in soil, giving plants that extra boost
for improved health and performance in the landscape.
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18. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 15
Building a Rain Garden
Step 3: Plant Choices & Installation
The larger the rain garden, the greater the diversity of plants that
can be used. For grasses and bulbs, plant on one‐foot centers. For
larger plants, increase the spacing. Try to minimize your footsteps in
the garden when planting to avoid soil compaction.
When choosing plants for your rain garden, it is important to
consider the height of each plant, bloom time and color, and its
overall texture. Use plants that bloom at different times to create a
long flowering season. Mix heights, shapes, and textures to give the
garden depth and dimension. This will keep the rain garden looking
interesting even when the flowers are not blooming.
Try incorporating a diverse mixture of sedges, rushes, and grasses
with your flowering species. This creates necessary root
competition that will allow plants to follow their normal growth
patterns and not outgrow or out‐compete other species. This also
helps to create a thick underground root matrix that keeps the
entire plant community in balance.
Once the plants are installed, apply a large chip, hardwood mulch,
two to three inches deep throughout the entire rain garden. If the
rain garden is installed during the dry season, hand‐water the new
plants every day for at least two weeks to get the roots established.
Finally, consider enhancing the rain garden by using local or existing
stone, ornamental fencing, trails, garden benches, or additional
wildflower plantings. This will help give the new garden an
intentional and cohesive look and provide a feeling of neatness that
your neighbors will appreciate.
The following page contains a table of suggested plants to use as a
starting point for your rain garden. This is not a complete list, but
many of the plants are readily available at garden centers and local
nurseries.
19. 16
Table 3: Some suggested plants for a rain garden in central Florida
* Indicates a Florida native species
Common Name Botanical Name
African Iris Dietes iridioides
Blue Flag Iris* Iris virginica
Canna Lily Canna spp.
Goldenrod* Solidago spp.
FLOWERS
Milkweed (native & non‐ Asclepias spp.
native species)
Shrimp plant Justicia brandegeana
Swamp sunflower* Helianthus angustifolius
Florida gamma grass* Tripscicum floridana
GRASSES & Muhly grass* Muhlenbergia capillaries
SHRUBS Wiregrass* Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana
Virginia Willow* Itea virginica
Holly Fern Cyrtomium falcatum
GROUND Periwinkle Vinca major
COVERS
St. Bernard’s Lily Anthericum sanderii
(For photos and cultural information about each of the plants listed above, along
with a complete catalog of suggested plants for your rain garden, visit the plant
list at the end of this publication.)
St. Bernard’s lilies Canna lilies
Anthericum sanderii Canna spp.
20. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 17
During the first two years after installing the rain garden, regular
maintenance will be required to keep out the weeds and replenish
the mulch. Once the plants fill in, the system will be relatively self‐
sustainable.
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22. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 19
Learn your plants and their growing habits. Some grasses, like
muhly grass, will need to be cut back in the spring once it has
finished blooming. Spent blooms and seed heads should be
removed on an as‐needed basis. This will help to maintain
aesthetics in the garden. Additionally, removing seeds before they
fall to the ground and germinate will prevent overcrowding and
competition among plants.
Certain plants, like lilies and irises, may need to be divided after a
few growing seasons. Share the extra plants with friends and family,
or transplant them to a suitable spot somewhere else in your yard.
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23. 20
Suggested Plant List for Rain
Gardens in Central Florida
FLOWERS & FLOWERING SHRUBS
Asclepias spp. — Milkweed
Light Range:
Soil Moisture:
Wildlife:
Native: Some
Perennial: Yes
Growth Rate: Fast
Mature Height & Spread: 4’ x 4’
Dietes iridioides — African Iris
Light Range:
Soil Moisture:
Wildlife: None
Native: No
Perennial: Yes
Growth Rate: Slow
Mature Height & Spread: 3’ x 2’
Solidago spp. — Goldenrod
Light Range:
Soil Moisture:
Wildlife:
Native: Some
Perennial: Yes
Growth Rate: Medium
Mature Height & Spread: 6’ x 2’
= Full sun = Part shade = Full shade = Dry = Wet = Butterflies = Birds
28. Rain Gardens: A Manual for Central Florida Residents 25
References
Andruczyk, M., et al. 2006. Rain Garden Plants. Publication 426‐043,
Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Bannerman, R. and Considine, E. 2003. Rain Gardens: A how‐to manual for
homeowners. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Publications,
Madison, WI.
D’Abreau, M. 2008. Stormwater Runoff 101. University of Florida IFAS
Hillsborough County Extension Fact Sheet.
Implementing an Effective NPS Pollution Education Program. Resource
manual developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protec‐
tion, the Florida Community College Consortium for Pollution Prevention,
and the Midwest Research Institute.
Kraus, H. and Spafford, A. 2009. Rain Gardening in the South: Ecologically
Designed Gardens for Drought, Deluge, and Everything in Between. John.
F. Blair, Publisher, Winston‐Salem, NC.
Rain Garden Network. 2010. http://www.raingardennetwork.com.
Stromme, L. 2001. Plotting to Infiltrate? Try Rain Gardens. http://www.
public.coe.edu/McLoud/RainGarden/Articles/PlottingtoInfiltrate.pdf.
University of Wisconsin Extension. 2002. Rain Gardens: A household way
to improve water quality in your community. Cooperative Extension
Publications, Madison, WI.
Wichman, T., et al. 2006. Florida‐Friendly Plant List 2006. Florida‐Friendly
Landscaping™ Program, University of Florida IFAS Extension. http://
fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/FYN_Plant_Selection_Guide_v090110.pdf.
Yard Waste Composting. 2001. US Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Fact Sheet, EPA/530‐SW‐91‐009.