This design for a native plant rain garden was commissioned by the Penn State Extension Cooperative. Located at The Fairmount Park Horticultural Center in Philadelphia, this site is a low point that naturally floods from the stormwater run-off from the adjacent Horticultural Drive. The Horticultural Center is a destination for weddings, the cherry tree festival and home to many historic sculptures, vistas and buildings and this unsightly depression sits along the bend of the main roadway within 50 feet of the main entry. Therefore, I was contracted to design and supervise the install of a raingarden to in this location to naturally beautify this space and reduce the flooding caused by the surrounding impermeable surfaces and compacted soils.
Raingardens reduce stormwater runoff by absorbing rain water from impervious and compacted surfaces that would otherwise run into storm drains and surface waters. Moving at an increased rate, the excess water volume causes bank erosion, sedimentary, nitrogen and pollutant deposits while also contributing to flooding. These conditions affect the overall ground water supply and its quality. To prevent the on going degradation of this prime location, this raingarden design was installed and continues to be maintained by volunteers.
Raingarden composition Bottom to Top:
- Sand & Pebbles (Pea Gravel)
- Sand
- Organic Material Mix & Plants
- Composted Manure
- Top Soil
- Peat Moss
- Sand
- Profile - nutrient amendments (green sand, marl, phosphorus, cotton seed meal)
- Compost - 3 inches & Corn Gluten Meal
- Mulch - Woodchips/Cedar
- Aggregate Features (Rock, Stone, Pebbles) for edge integrity
- Soaker Hose (two 50' hoses)
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