8 Mile Rain Garden Lot Design - A Field Guide Working with Lots
Contents
1. Locate underground utilities before beginning your lot design MISS DIG provides a free service to Michigan residents by locating and marking utilities on requested properties Call 800 482 7171 or 811 at least three days before you plan to start digging on your lot Test Your Soil Harmful pollutants have made their way into many urban soils To proceed with awareness consider having your soil tested before construction Two great options are available Soil testing is free to members of Keep Growing Detroit s Garden Resource Program Call 515 757 2655 for more information or visit detroitagriculture net If you are not yet a member you can work directly with Michigan State University s MSU Extension Program They have a Home Lawn and Garden Soil Test Mailer for 25 For more information call 888 678 5464 or visit msusoiltest com If you are concerned about the presence of lead or other contaminants in your soil call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at 866 691 5323 or 800 424 LEAD Remove Your Grass Need to remove grass in areas where you are constructing your lot design There are many ways to remove unwanted grass The first is to remove the grass and its root system by digging up the grass Another option is to cover your lot with cardboard or a plastic tarp to smother your grass in darkness It will take several weeks but after being covered the dead grass will be easier to rem2. May June 18 Height x 18 Width Quantity 15 pots Blooms May June Quantity 12 pots Plant Sizes Pots Plants can be purchased in one to five gallon pots The size of pots can change based on availability Variegated Siberian gt Brunnera macrophylla variegated 18 Height x 18 Width Blooms May June Quantity 12 pots Image Source 1 Daderot Botanical Specimen in the San Francisco Botanical Garden 04 November 2013 via Wikimedia Creative Commons CCO 1 0 Universal Public Domain Dedication 2 David Heise Southern Blue Flag 01 12 August 2007 via Flickr CC BY NC 2 0 3 Fritzflohrreynolds Great Blue Lobelia 23 September 2012 via Wikimedia CC BY SA 3 0 4 Fritzflohrreynolds Virgina Waterleaf 2 01 May 2013 via Wikimedia CC BY SA 5 0 5 Wouter Hagens Brunnera Macrophylla A 19 2007 via Wikimedia Public Domain 6 A Barra Brunnera Macrophylla Jack Frost May 2008 via Wikimedia CC BY SA 3 0 7 Vauban Brunnera macrophylla 11 April 2006 via Wikimedia Public Domain Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 12 Did You Know Professionals Can Help The Field Guide to Working With Lots provides a Construction Package for each lot design The Construction Package includes information and details required for a professional to construct this design On the Field Guide web site use the Construction Package link located near the top of th
3. adjacent property or public sidewalk Avoid disconnecting downspouts where they might discharge water across walkways patios or driveways or where they might be a tripping hazard Do not disconnect directly over a septic system Follow these steps to help you redirect your roof water into your rain garden Measure the existing downspout and mark it approximately nine inches above sewer connection or standpipe Cut with a hacksaw and remove cut piece Plug or cap the sewer standpipe with a rubber cap secured by a hose clamp Use screwdriver to tighten and secure cap Attach elbow joint over the downspout Add downspout extension to elbow joint Extension should be length needed to carry water away from house and towards rain garden Secure pieces with sheet metal screws at each joint Use plastic or concrete splashblocks rocks flagstone or boulders at the end of the downspout to control erosion of soil and plants in the rain garden from stormwater For more information refer to the DWSD s How to Disconnect a Downspout document Plant Perennials This lot design provides two planting options for your rain garden depending on whether your lot is in sun or shade Place plants in the desired location then remove plastic pots loosen roots and plant The Field Guide recommends adding three inches of rain garden planting soil to your rain garden 1 5 cubic yards and top with three inches of w
4. while the plants establish themselves Will the installation of this lot design require a professional The installation of this lot design should not require professional assistance if you with the help and support of friends family or neighbors would like to construct this lot design Please refer to the Step By Step section for guidance If you do not have required support or feel unable to tackle this lot design please seek professional assistance How long will it take to install this lot design While people tackle projects in different ways and at different speeds the Field Guide estimates the completion time of this lot design to be one full weekend with the help of at least three healthy adults or youth The Field Guide assumes the lot is construction ready and all equipment and materials required for the lot design have been acquired and are ready to use 2 500 5 500 5 500 Professional Volunteer Professional Intermediate Advanced High Better Best Residential Lot in Full Sun to Shade Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 3 8 Mile Rain Garden Examples of Rain Gardens 1 Planting Perennials Section 4 07 14 0 Mound 8 O Rain Garden 4 Q Grass Area Grass Area Where Do I Grow The 8 Mile Rain Garden is best for single lots Position the design close to houses garages or other rain water catchment areas so the rain garden can collect stormw
5. 8 visit DFC lots com FUTURE with lots CITY DFClots Image Source Center for Neighborhood Technology Rain Ready Home 1 01 July 2014 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0
6. Volunteer SSIONC working e 8 Mile Rain Garden with lots Image Source Pat Dumas Ruby Throated Hummer in Bee Balm 1 04 July 2010 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0 Location Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden HELLO MY NAME IS 8 Mile Rain Garden The 8 Mile Rain Garden design is a six inch bowl that captures stormwater and slowly releases it into the soil keeping it from entering Detroit s overtaxed sewerage system The 8 Mile Rain Garden is ideal for a homeowner looking to create a productive landscape by using their disconnected downspout to water this small garden This lot design includes a vibrant mixture of native and non native plants and provides multiple planting options that have been selected to brighten property and provide habitat For more information refer to DFC lots com Volunteer People Experience Beginner Upkeep Low Good 50 1 000 1 000 2 500 What is the lot design likely to cost The estimated cost of the 8 Mile Rain Garden is low 50 1 000 and based on utilizing volunteer labor and potted plants The cost assumes that residents or volunteers have access to basic safety gear and garden tools How much upkeep will this lot design require This lot design requires a medium level of maintenance to thrive Maintenance will include weeding and watering the newly planted rain garden particularly during the first two growing seasons
7. arden size has been determined use marking paint and a tape measure to map out the size shape and dimensions of your design The Field Guide recommends an approximately 22 by 17 foot area 310 square feet for a standard single family home in Detroit The rain garden is 155 square feet and the mound is 155 square feet Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 8 Mile Rain Garden Step By Step Dig Your Rain Garden Once the area is ready for construction dig one foot deep within the rain garden area and use removed soil to create a mound or other desired shape next to the rain garden area After removing the soil check that the bottom of the rain garden is level An easy way to check this is with a string level or a spirit level attached to a two by four board A level bottom is important to maximize infiltration and minimize the chance of standing water in the rain garden After leveling the bottom the soil should be prepared by scarifying raking or tilling the soil four to six inches deep to loosen any compaction If tilling the rain garden be aware of what is underneath the soil such as cement debris or large rocks Disconnect Your Downspout One of the easiest ways to collect stormwater is by disconnecting your downspout and directing it into your rain garden Before you start remember that disconnected downspouts should extend at least six feet from any house foundation and five feet from
8. ater runoff from hard surfaces The 8 Mile Rain Garden is small and can be installed on several locations on your lot The mound is created from the soil excavated to create the rain garden Grass or Optional Groundcover Image Source 1 Chesapeake Bay Program Volunteers planting a rain garden 3 09 April 2010 via Flickr CC BY NC 2 0 2 Randy OHC Monarch on echinacea 23 July 2007 via Flickr CC BY NC 2 0 5 Northfield org Rain Garden Planting 19 May 2012 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0 Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden Before You Start Construction Ready This lot design assumes that you have prepared the lot toa construction ready state Construction Ready refers to a lot that is clean and clear of trash hazardous objects unwanted trees brush and vegetation fences and other unwanted structures It may be necessary to remove grass in preparation for your lot design Refer to the Remove Your Grass box located on the right hand side of this page for more information Is there an available water source near your lot Consider how and where you will access water during and after construction to ensure that your plants can establish If your lot is not ready for construction refer to the Clean Green lot design You can find the lot design at DFC lots com Call Before You Dig
9. chased through the Michigan Wildflower Farm Other Field Guide lot designs can be used as groundcovers Check out the web site for additional options and ideas Next Level If you would like to bring additional color to your grass you can plant bluebells crocuses and or daffodils to create a decorative show in spring Bulbs should be planted in the fall For more guidance on bulb planting refer to the Bulb Planting Detail Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 9 8 Mile Rain Garden Lot Design Refer to the Construction Package for more details located Alternate Location at DFC lots com Strengthen your neighborhood s identity Align your rain garden with the front setback line of adjacent houses eur Ayadold eur Ayadold Individual Plant Alternate Location House 5 7 p 7 a a 7 E pa P 44 PE 4 4 A 4 4 A s E 4 4g A A lt a a ri E 2 i 4g 4 c lt 4 A lav lt A av 4 T 4 e 4 2 4 lt i Ej A lt A 9 4 _ a 2 9 A A ac id 2 x 2 d 2 Road O A 8 16 Perennial Perennial in Grass Optional on Mound Rain Garden Groundcover Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 10 Planting Option 1 Full Sun To Part Sun Black Eyed Susan Purple Coneflower Rudbeckia hirta Echinacea purpurea 24 Height x 24 Wi
10. dth 24 Height x 12 Width Blooms June October Blooms July August Attractive to Butterflies Attractive to Butterflies Quantity 10 pots Quantity 9 pots Black Eyed Susan amp Purple Cornflower Space approximately one foot apart and mix evenly Blue Flag lris Bee Balm Iris virginica Monarda fistulosa 24 Height x 12 Width 24 Height x 28 Width Blue Flag Iris Bee Balm amp Switch Blooms May June Blooms July September Grass Space approximately one Quantity 5 pots Attractive to Butterflies and one half feet apart and mix Quantity pots evenly May Night Salvia Space approximately one foot apart Cranesbill Geranium amp Mixed Tulips Space Geraniums Switch Grass approximately one foot apart PA VIL gt sylvestris May Space Tulips evenly between oo eee cn A p P y Quantity 5 pots 18 Height x 18 Width Geraniums Blooms May July Quantity 50 pots Plant Sizes Pots Plants can be purchased in one to five gallon pots Size of pots can change based on availability Cranesbill Geranium Mixed Tulips Bulbs Bulbs are cheaper if Geranium sanguineum 14 Height x 8 Width purchased in bulk You can find Alpenglow Blooms April May 18 Height x 18 Width Quantity 50 bulbs or more bulk bags at garden stores Blooms May July Quantity 51 pots Image Source 1 Parshotam Lal Tandon Rudbeckia hirta 27 July 2015 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0 2 Jordan Meeter Purple Cone
11. e a string 10 feet long to the stake Walk in a circle using the string to create an even radius circle in the landscape As you walk in the circle mark your path on the ground You can use these markings to help locate the edge of your rain garden Prepare Your Lot Select the best location for your rain garden The rain garden should be ten feet from any house foundation and at least five feet from the sidewalk A rain garden only works if water is directed into it The Field Guide recommends constructing your rain garden near downspouts from roofs of houses or garages or near other hard surfaces such as driveways or patios Ensure water flows from these surfaces into your rain garden Once you find the area you wish to direct into your rain garden calculate the minimum size of your rain garden Your rain garden should be one square foot for every ten square feet of hardscape or stormwater area directed into your rain garden The 8 Mile Rain Garden has been pre designed for a standard single family house size in Detroit 920 to 1 350 square feet If your rain garden will be collecting stormwater from areas larger than 1 350 square feet you will need to adjust the size of the rain garden or consider implementing another lot design with a larger rain garden such as the Friendly Fence he Friendly Fence lot design can accommodate or collect stormwater runoff for roof areas up to 4 200 square feet After the rain g
12. eking a lower maintenance alternative to a traditional lawn the Field Guide recommends a fescue seed mix If you follow the 8 Mile Rain Garden lot design you will need approximately 10 to 12 pounds of fescue seed mix for the remaining lot 2 690 square feet and three 8 by 112 5 foot rolls of single net germination blankets This family of floppy grasses is drought resistant and requires one cutting in August or September per year Fescue can be established in full sun to shade and should be seeded in spring mid March to mid May or fall August to September Soil should be prepared for seeding by scarifying raking or tilling the soil four to six inches deep to loosen any compaction allowing for easier seed germination and better water infiltration Apply seed mix to a damp lot Sow seed across the remaining lot by using a seed spreader or by hand A seed rate of five pounds per 1 000 square feet is recommended Gently water seedlings daily until they are four to six inches in height Placing a thin layer of straw or a germination blanket over seeded areas will help ensure that your seed establishes by keeping seeds from blowing away and protecting them from birds Germination blankets or straw can be purchased at most nurseries and garden stores Once established grass will not require supplemental watering except during unusually dry periods Eco Turf Low Maintenance Fescue Mix is one recommended seed mix and can be pur
13. flower Echinacea purpurea 07 August 2008 via Flickr CC BY 2 0 3 Jenny Evans Blue Flag Iris 28 December 2010 via Flickr CC BY NC 2 0 4 Corey Seeman Bee Balm Flowers 16 July 2013 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0 5 tpmartins 012 11 July 2007 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0 6 Kallerna Lostosalvia 2010 Wikimedia CC BY NC SA 3 0 7 Tapio Kaisla Wood Cranesbill Geranium Sylvaticum 18 June 2009 via Flickr CC BY NC ND 2 0 UK 8 MookieLuv Mixed rows of tulips 18 April 2010 via Flickr CC BY NC SA 2 0 Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 11 Planting Option 2 Part Shade to Shade Variegated Sweet Flag Blue Flag Iris Acorus gramineus Ogon Iris virginica 12 Height x 24 Width 24 Height x 12 Width Quantity 19 pots Blooms May June Quantity 5 pots Blue Cardinal Flower Virginia waterleaf Variegated Sweet Flag Lobelia siphiliticat Hydrophyllum virginianum Space approximately one foot 24 Height x 8 Width 24 Height x 24 Width Blooms August Blooms July September apart Quantity 6 pots Quantity 6 pots Blue Flag Iris Blue Cardinal Flower amp Virginia Waterleaf Space approximately one foot apart and mix evenly Variegated Bugloss Jack Frost Bugloss amp Variegated Bugloss Jack Frost Bugloss Variegated Siberian Bugloss Brunnera macrophylla Brunnera macrophylla Space approximately one foot 18 Height x 18 Width Jack Frost apart and mixed evenly Blooms
14. is lot design page to download and print Your selected professional will then be able to provide a cost estimate and schedule based on the condition of your lot and the design you select Want to Hire Locally DFC lots com has a growing list of Detroit based professionals and suppliers of landscape materials and services Still unsure of where to start Call 515 294 LOTS or email fieldguide detroitfuturecity com for assistance Rain gardens are designed to decrease the amount of rainwater flowing off your roof and property into the City stormwater system Rain gardens capture hold and release stormwater gradually back into the soil The plants recommended for this lot design have been selected for their beauty habitat creation and local availability This rain garden is designed to provide habitat and food for a variety of birds and pollinators Looking for more information on rain gardens The Sierra Club of Detroit has been running a rain garden program since 2012 and is happy to help Looking for a more cost efficient planting option Consider a rain garden seed mix such as ERNMIX 180 Ernst Rain Garden Meadow Mix Tulips should be planted on a mound Do not plant in or near your rain garden as they do not do well in wet conditions Water after planting and as needed Do not allow soil to dry out Weed weekly or as needed To save money ask a friend
15. ood chips or mulch 1 5 cubic yards Adding wood chips or mulch will help suppress weeds Rain garden planting soil should consist of approximately 50 sand 25 topsoil and 25 compost or leaf litter Mix together and place in rain garden Repair grass areas damaged during construction Scarify any soil that may have been compacted then sprinkle grass seed over damaged lawn areas Be sure not to sprinkle the seed mix into your rain garden For more guidance on planting perennials refer to the Perennials Grasses Planting Detail Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 8 Mile Rain Garden Step By Step Maintain Your Lot Design A rain garden requires care and maintenance to thrive The 8 Mile Rain Garden is a manageoble size however watering and weeding plants regularly is still required especially during the first two years Be careful not to let your rain garden dry out or to be overrun by weeds All gardens require time and commitment to flourish The mulch or wood chips areas should be replenished or top dressed annually Gardens are a work in progress Bulbs and perennials may need to be replaced to keep gardens dynamic and playful Be creative and make it your own D Visit the Resources page on the Field Guide s web site DFC lots com to discover other vendors and places to purchase plants Average Height of Plants Grasses Perennials and Bulbs C Sow Remaining Lot If you are se
16. or family member if they have any plants or cuttings they are willing to donate to your rain garden Draw Your Lot ie uide lots co ile Rain Garden DETROIT
17. ove Till Safely Before you till inspect your lot for signs of buried concrete or rubble that was not removed during the cleanup stage Large debris can ruin tiller blades When tilling wear appropriate safety gear such as covered boots with socks long pants safety glasses dust mask and ear protection Make sure you understand the safe operating procedures of your tiller Refer to the user s manual Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden What You Need Shopping List Shopping List The shopping list provides a breakdown of potential materials tools and resources required to construct this lot design This shopping list is designed for a single lot 30 by 100 feet Tools Resources Suggested Tools Marking Paint Spirit Level Tape Measure String and Stake Safety Gear Gloves heavy work boots tall socks pants long sleeve shirts dust masks protective eye wear ear plugs and hard hats if using heavy machinery Garden Tools Spades shovels rakes trash bags and wheelbarrows Hacksaw and Screwdriver Potential Water Sources Garden Hose with potential extension hose Sprinkler Rain Barrel in addition to other water source Downspout Disconnect shown in lot design Field Guide Resources Resources are available on the Field Guide s web site Clean Green Perennials Grasses Planting Detail Bulb Planting Detail Materials List Materials Rain Ga
18. rden Planting Soil 1 5 cubic yards 50 sand 25 topsoil and 25 compost or leaf litter Mulch or Wood Chips 1 5 cubic yards Downspout Disconnect Standpipe cap downspout elbow downspout connection pipe rubber cap and hose clamp Planting Option 1 Sun Black Eyed Susan 10 pots Purple Cornflower 9 pots Blue Flag Iris 5 pots Bee Balm 5 pots Switch Grass 5 pots May Night Salvia 30 pots Cranesbill Geranium 51 pots Mixed Tulips 50 bulbs or more Planting Option 2 Shade Variegated Sweet Flag 19 pots Blue Flag Iris 5 pots Blue Cardinal Flower 6 pots Virginia Waterleaf 6 pots Variegated Bugloss 15 pots Jack Frost Bugloss 12 pots Variegated Siberian Bugloss 12 pots Remaining Lot Optional Groundcover Low Maintenance Fescue Mix 10 to 12 pounds of seed Germination Blanket 5 rolls 8 by 112 5 feet Field Guide DFC lots com 8 Mile Rain Garden 8 Mile Rain Garden Step By Step Let s Start Want to create the 8 Mile Rain Garden but don t want to hire a professional Here are a few guiding principles to help you construct your lot design Z Check off tasks as you go along Lot Design Steps Volunteer Opportunities Prepare Your Lot Dig Your Rain Garden Disconnect Your Downspout Plant Perennials Maintain Your Lot Design Sow Remaining Lot Make a Circle Place a stake at the desired location for the center of the circle Ti
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