Step 4. Garden Maintenance
Keeping Your Rain Garden Maintained
- More maintenance will be needed during the first two or three years to remove weeds and replace plants that did not survive.
- Mulch annually to keep soil moist and allow easy infiltration of rain water
Rain gardens should be re-mulched with 2-3 inches of mulch every spring. Use a natural, un-dyed mulch. - Minimize sediment flow into the garden
If construction is still underway on your property or adjacent properties, wait until the soil in the area is planted and stabilized before constructing your garden Sediment in a rain garden can decrease runoff infiltration, and also kill plants. - Weed, prune, and water your garden, especially during the first season
Newly planted species may have a tough time competing with weeds. The plants in your rain garden will need to be watered regularly during establishment to ensure healthy growth. - Keep your garden healthy and clean
Rain gardens should be periodically cleared of dead vegetation and any debris that may collect. Replanting may be necessary over time. If a plant is not doing so well in one location of the garden, you may want to relocate the plant to a wetter or dryer area.
Resources Rain Garden Maintenance
- North Carolina State University: Bioretention Performance, Design, Construction,and Maintenance
- Rain Gardens: A How-to Manual for Homeowners pp: 16-17
Step 1. Locate & Prep | Step 2. Design | Step 3. Construction | Step 4. Maintenance