Thank you to Eileen from Lake County Forest Preserve for coming and talking to us about Rain Gardens.
A Rain Garden is an area which is created to soak up rainwater. The rain garden fills with a few inches of water after a storm and the water slowly filters into the ground rather than running off to a storm drain. Compared to a conventional patch of lawn, a rain garden allows about 30% more water to soak into the ground.
Rain gardens are important because as cities and suburbs grow and replace forests and agricultural land, increased stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces becomes a problem. Stormwater runoff from developed areas increases flooding; carries pollutants from streets, parking lots and even lawns into local streams and lakes; and leads to costly municipal improvements in stormwater treatment structures.
Rain Garden How To: hƩps://www.lakecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10599/Rain-Garden-How-To-Manual
The area is one where rain drains away in 24 to 48 hours. The best way to check this is to dig a small hole and fill it with water and track how quickly the water goes away. Mosquitos take up to 2 days to lay and hatch eggs so you don’t want it to become a nesting spot.
The location should be at least ten feet from the house. Be sure to avoid septic lines. This works best in flatter areas of your yard. See how to for yards with an incline.
The area is planted with Native Plants as it will clean the rain water. Native Plants create a habitat for animals
When picking plants keep in mind year-round appeal of the area. You want your plants to be half as tall as the garden is wide. Remember the spread and height of plants. You want to garden in layers so the area looks more intentional. Remember to plant in set of 3,5 or 7 plant groups. Have a defined shape and boarder. Plugs are recommended as seeds will wash away. Label plants and be sure to water and mulch the area.
Plant recommendations include:
- Joe Pye Weed
- Great Blue Lobelia New England Aster Dense Blazing Star Golden Alexander
- Black-eyed Susan Switch Grass
- Marsh Phlox
- Blue False indigo
- Culvers Root
- Blue Vervain
- Bee Balm
- Fox Sedge (Workhorse)
- Swamp Milkweed (Monarch host) Cardinal Flower (Hummingbird’s love) Blue Flag Iris
A plant list for different soil types can be found at: hƩps://dnr.illinois.gov/educaƟon/plantlistraingarden.html Shady area plant list: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/sewraingardens/files/2014/02/ShadyRGPlantList.pdf Plant lists by area: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=347854&p=2345331
Maintaining Garden. Cut Plants in the spring once the temperature is above 50 degrees. Keep open stems for bugs to live in. Brush piles help pollinators. Water regularly at the beginning to start the roots off well. Weed appropriately and do not use chemicals on the garden.
Lake County Forest Preserve offers many educational options. Monthly they have online classes about native plants. Their calendar can be found here: hƩps://www.lcfpd.org/calendar/april2023/
They also hold a native plant sale; the online porƟon is available now: hƩps://www.lcfpd.org/plant-sale/
After the discussion we went on a field trip where my neighbor, Chester, showed us his rain garden and the various plants he has.
The following is a listing of our upcoming Garden Clubs Events:
- May 3 – 6:00pm; 407 Killarney Pass Cir: Vegetable Gardens. We will have the pleasure of two speakers this month. Tony Titus will start us off at 6pm showing us his raised vegetable garden beds. We will then at 6:30pm move to Luke Emde’s house at 931 Banbury Road.
- May 21 – 11:00am; South Beach: Floating Islands. Planting Floating Islands. To Sign up for a slot email events@lochlomondlake.com
- June 2 – 10:00am; South Beach: Buffer Strips. Planting Buffer Strips. To Sign up for a slot email events@lochlomondlake.com
- June 7 – 6:30pm; South Beach: Floating Island and Buffer Strips. Join us to learn about our new Floating Islands and Buffer Strips. We have invited our neighboring lake communities Diamond Lake and Sylvan Lake.