Where Should My Rain Garden Go?
Home rain gardens can be in one of two places – near the house to catch only roof runoff or farther out on the lawn to collect water from the lawn and roof.
To help decide where to put a rain garden, consider these points:
- The rain garden should be at least 10 feet from the house so infiltrating water doesn’t seep into the foundation.
- Do not place the rain garden directly over a septic system.
- It may be tempting to put the rain garden in a part of the yard where water already ponds. Don’t! The goal of a rain garden is to encourage infiltration, and your yard’s wet patches show where infiltration is slow.
- It is better to build the rain garden in full or partial sun, not directly under a big tree.
- Putting the rain garden in a flatter part of the yard will make digging much easier. For example, a rain garden 10 feet wide on a 10% slope must be 12 inches deep to be level, unless you import topsoil or use cut and fill.
Consider your overall landscape
When considering placement of your rain garden, design with the end in mind. Carefully consider how the rain garden can be integrated into existing and future landscaping. Also, pay attention to views from inside the house as well as those throughout the landscape. Determine how far or how close you want your rain garden to outdoor gathering spaces or other play areas. Why not locate it near a patio where you can take advantage of the colors and fragrances for hours on end!
