Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andlohr/RainGardenSurvey/LohrHummel... ·...
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INTRODUCTION Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, and Maintenance This survey is designed to improve the use and effectiveness of rain gardens. We are asking green industry professionals to tell us about their experiences with rain gardens to help develop strategies to encourage the adoption of functional and practical rain gardens. It is funded by a grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Nursery License Surcharge Fund. INSTRUCTIONS: The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. Please read and respond to the items on this survey based on your experiences with and knowledge of rain gardens. You do not need to respond to every question, but the more questions you answer, the more helpful your responses will be to the researchers. Your responses are completely anonymous. We thank you for your time and your willingness to participate. CONSENT: We will assume that you are at least 18 years old and that you agree to allow us to use your anonymous responses if you submit a survey. QUESTIONS: If you have questions about the survey, contact either of these researchers: DR. VIRGINIA LOHR Department of Horticulture Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-6414 [email protected] DR. RITA HUMMEL WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center 2606 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371-4900 [email protected] 1
Transcript of Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andlohr/RainGardenSurvey/LohrHummel... ·...
INTRODUCTION
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
This survey is designed to improve the use and effectiveness of rain gardens. Weare asking green industry professionals to tell us about their experiences with raingardens to help develop strategies to encourage the adoption of functional andpractical rain gardens. It is funded by a grant from the Washington StateDepartment of Agriculture Nursery License Surcharge Fund.
INSTRUCTIONS: The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. Please read and respond to theitems on this survey based on your experiences with and knowledge of rain gardens.You do not need to respond to every question, but the more questions you answer,the more helpful your responses will be to the researchers. Your responses arecompletely anonymous. We thank you for your time and your willingness toparticipate.
CONSENT: We will assume that you are at least 18 years old and that you agree to allow us touse your anonymous responses if you submit a survey.
QUESTIONS:If you have questions about the survey, contact either of these researchers:
DR. VIRGINIA LOHRDepartment of Horticulture
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6414
DR. RITA HUMMELWSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center
2606 West Pioneer
Puyallup, WA 98371-4900
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PART I. Questions about your business or place ofemployment
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
1. What is the primary focus of your business or place of employment? [Check only one]
Landscape design
Landscape installation
Landscape maintenance
Plant production
Sales
Education
Government: Federal/State/Local
Other (please specify):
2. What else does your business or place of employment do? [Check all that apply]
Landscape design
Landscape installation
Landscape maintenance
Plant production
Sales
Education
Government: Federal/State/Local
Other (please specify):
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3. Is your business or your place of employment involved with any of the following raingarden activities? [Check all that apply]
Rain garden design
Rain garden installation
Rain garden maintenance
Rain garden regulation
Other (please specify):
0% 1-5% 5-10% 10-30% 30-50% 50-75%75-
100%
Rain garden design:
Rain garden installation:
Rain garden maintenance:
Rain garden regulation:
4. About how much of the work of your business or your place of employment relates to eachof the following rain garden activities?
Please explain about how much your business related to rain gardens has changed in the last 2years and why:
5. In the past two years ago, has the portion of the work of your business or your place ofemployment related to rain gardens changed?
Yes, work with rain gardens has increased (please explain below)
Yes, work with rain gardens has decreased (please explain below)
No, work with rain gardens has remained about the same
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6. What areas of Washington State does your business or your place of employment serve?[Check all that apply]
Greater Seattle (King County)
North Puget Sound (Island, Snohomish counties, etc.)
South Puget Sound (Pierce, Thurston counties, etc.)
Kitsap/Olympic Peninsula (Clallam, Grays Harbor counties, etc.)
Southwest WA (Clark, Cowlitz counties, etc.)
Central Washington (Benton, Chelan counties, etc.)
Eastern Washington (Spokane, Whitman counties, etc.)
Other (please specify):
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PART II. Questions about yourself
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
1. What is your position?
2. Have you worked with rain gardens in Washington State?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
3. Have you worked with rain gardens in places other than Washington State?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years and list where):
4. Have you had training about designing, installing, or maintaining rain gardens? [Check allthat apply]
1 course or program
2 or 3 courses or programs
4 or more courses or programs
Self-taught
Other (please describe):
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5. Have you ever designed rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
6. Have you ever designed landscapes other than rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
7. Have you ever installed rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
8. Have you ever installed landscapes other than rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
9. Have you ever maintained rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
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10. Have you ever maintained landscapes other than rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
11. Have you ever ever been involved with regulating rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
12. Have you ever been involved with regulating landscapes other than rain gardens?
No
Yes (please enter about how many years):
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PART III. Questions about rain garden maintenance
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
INSTRUCTIONS: You will be asked to consider the following questions about each of 16different rain garden maintenance activities.
a. When maintaining a typical rain garden, about how often do you do each activity?
b. For effective appearance and functioning of a rain garden, in your opinion, how oftenshould each or does each need to be done?
c. To have rain gardens widely accepted and appreciated by the public and green industryprofessionals, in your opinion, how likely is each item to be a barrier?
Please answer each question for all of the 16 maintenance items._____________________________________
RAIN GARDEN MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES:
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this needto be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
1. Water or irrigate new plants to establish them:
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Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this needto be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
2. Water or irrigate established plants:
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this needto be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
3. Remove weeds and/or invasive plants:
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Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this needto be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
4. Replace dead, dying or under-performing plants:
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PART III. Questions about rain garden maintenance (continued)
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this needto be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
5. Prune trees and shrubs:
Never Rarely Sometimes OftenVery-often
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this need tobe done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
6. Prune herbaceous perennials including grasses, sedges, and rushes:
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Never Rarely Sometimes OftenVery-often
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this need tobe done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
7. Apply fertilizer to any plant:
Never Rarely Sometimes OftenVery-often
a. For a typical rain garden, about howoften do you do this?
b. How often should or does this need tobe done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrier toacceptance?
Other (please specify):
8. Maintain the perimeter (border) by edging or removing escaping plants:
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PART III. Questions about rain garden maintenance (continued)
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
9. Reapply mulch or compost:
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
10. Remove unwanted debris including trash:
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Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
11. Remove plant and leaf litter:
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
12. Remove accumulated sediment:
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PART III. Questions about rain garden maintenance (continued)
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
13. Inspect on a regular schedule, such as weekly or monthly:
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
14. Inspect after significant rainfall, such as 1 inch in 24 hours:
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Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
15. Repair erosion problems or eroded areas:
Never Rarely Occasionally OftenVeryoften
a. For a typical rain garden, abouthow often do you do this?
b. How often should or does thisneed to be done?
c. How likely is this to be a barrierto acceptance?
Other (please specify)
16. Repair non-plant functional components such as basket covers, mulch,inlets, and outlets:
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PART IV. Environmental benefits andacceptance
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
1. Have you observed issues related to rain gardens failing to provide environmentalbenefits, for example from slow water infiltration, plugging of outlets, soil mix depletion, poorplant growth? If so, please explain:
Environmental benefits:
Aesthetics (visual appearance):
Acceptance by the property owner:
Acceptance by the green industry:
2. About what percentage (%) of rain gardens do you think are successful in terms ofeach of the following:
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End of Survey
Experiences with Rain Garden Design, Installation, andMaintenance
If you would like to make any additional comments on this survey, please do so below orcontact the researchers directly.
Thank-you for your time! CLICK the DONE button at the bottom of the page tosubmit your answers.
DR. VIRGINIA LOHR
Dept. of Horticulture
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6414
DR. RITA HUMMEL
WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center
2606 West Pioneer
Puyallup, WA 98371-4900
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