South Carolina; Rain Garden: A Rain Garden Manual for South Carolina - Clemson University

8/3/2019 South Carolina; Rain Garden: A Rain Garden Manual for South Carolina - Clemson University

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RAINGARDENS

A RA I N GARDEN MANUAL FOR SOUTH CAROLI NA

As development increases, sodoes the area of impervioussurface. Impervious surfacesinclude roadways, rooftops,parking lots and sidewalks.Without planning and appro-priate management, water thatruns over these surfaces picksup pollutants along the wayand carries them directly toour lakes, rivers and estuar-

ies. These pollutants includebacteria, nutrients, litter, sedi-ment, oils and metals. Waterthat heats up on parking lotsand roadways also can leadto warmer than normal waterentering nearby waterways.This runoff, called stormwa-ter, is generated by precipita-tion, snow melt and irrigationwater that runs off the land.Stormwater is the greatestthreat to our nations surfacewaters.

As well as creating hard sur-faces where pollutants can bewashed into waterways, imper-

vious surfaces also prevent thenatural infiltration process thatoccurs in forests, fields and openareas. Instead of adding to thegroundwater supply, stormwa-ter flushes the landscape, oftenleading to increased flooding,erosion, sedimentation anddamage to wetlands, ecosys-tems and waterways.

Rain gardens have become a

popular and attractive methodfor property owners to decreasethe impact of their impervi-ous surfaces. Rain gardens arelandscaped depressions that

receive stormwater runoff andallow the runoff to slowly infil-trate to the groundwater table.As well as intercepting storm-water runoff that could haveadded to flooding problems,the rain garden allows natureto play a role, removing some ofthe pollutants that would haveotherwise affected water qual-ity. During infiltration, plants

use excess nutrients for growth,sediment is trapped in the gar-den and biological processesremove pathogens. Dissolvedmetals and nutrients bind oradsorb to soil particles, and areremoved temporarily out of thesystem. Rain gardens, like anygarden, also become habitat forbees, birds and butterflies.

GREEN SOLUTIONS TO STORMWATER POLLUTION

Many other stormwater manage-ment techniques address only a

portion of the problems caused bystormwater runoff. Rain gardens,

however, have the potential tosolve all of the problems of storm-

water runoff before they occur.

Kevin Beutell,Stormwater, October 2008

Carolina Clear


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Rain gardens should be located in an area to which rain water typicflows. If a depression already exists in your yard, this could be a gcandidate for siting your rain garden. If not, a depression in the grocould be easily dug. Remember, the depression in the landscape shoNOT have a seasonally high water table. This would inhibit the amouninfiltration that would take place and restrict the variety and potential cess of the plants you use in your rain garden. Often, rain gardens are b

down slope of the downspout and at least 10 feet away from the hom

The size of your rain garden is dependent onthe area that runs off into the garden, thevolume of water it will need to temporarilystore, and the soils that will do the infiltrat-ing. The Center for Watershed Protectionrecommends that the rain garden area bebetween 20 and 30 percent of the drainage

area directed to the depression. For bestresults and plant growth, it is also recom-mended that the rain garden depression beapproximately 6 inches deep.

Rain gardens are typically designedto store and infiltrate a 1-inchstorm. In cases where a storm willproduce more than 1 inch of rainin 24 hours, excess water shouldbe able to leave the rain gardenwithout eroding soils and carry-

ing away mulch and soil. Yourrain garden design should includean overflow so that excess waterfrom larger storms can be divertedout of the rain garden. To preventoverflow from eroding the soilsaround the rim of the rain garden,stones or turf reinforcement canbe used. A berm will also keep

Be aware o utility lines beoreyou dig. Call P.U.P.S. at 811or 1-888-721-7877 to requestinormation beore digging.

To help envision the shapeand layout o your rain gar-den, lay a rope or gardenhose in the shape and sizeo your rain garden. Keepthis outline as your diggingboundary until complete.

A curved shape makes therain garden look more inter-esting and natural. The lon-gest length o the rain gardenshould be perpendicular tothe slope o the property.

Remember, i you have aseptic system, you should besure that water is not routedto the drainield area, whichcould reduce the eectivenesso your drainield and lead tosystem ailure!

Trees are primarily or largerain gardens (at least 150square eet) and should beplanted at least 8 eet apart.Consult your HorticultureAgent or nursery or more

advice.

SIMPLE TIPS FOR

RAIN GARDENING

SUCCESS:

SIZING YOUR RAIN GARDEN YOUR INNER ENGINEE

SITING YOUR RAIN GARDEN MAKING THE BEST OF A DEPRESSED SITUATIO

water in the rain garden so thahas the time to infiltrate.

Since rain gardens are supposedreduce the amount of runoff encourage infiltration of stormter, soils play a major role in t

effectiveness and success.mix and drainage piping are decisions the designer makesdetermining drainage capabiliof your rain garden. The soil selected must have a balanceclay soils that will support pgrowth and fix pollutants withe soil, as well as sandy soils twill encourage infiltration. Saloam to loamy sand is the mrecommended mixfor rain gardresulting in permeability rates

to 6 inches per hour. If possistart with the native soils fthe depression and amend thto get the results your rain gar

requires.

To find out if ysoil needs toamended, should do things - condusoil perk test have your na

soil tested. 2


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Once the depression has been estlished with ample drainage, the nstep is installing plants. Rain gard

vegetation should be able to withstand brief periods of staning water, yet thrive between rain events under dry con

tions. Plants by region of South Carolina are listed on

following pages. Native plants are plants that are naturaa region, and therefore may be better suited for the sand seasons and may also provide the best habitat birds, bees and butterflies natural to that area.

There are a few rules of caution and advice when choing vegetation for your rain garden.1. In situations where an underdrain is installed, plasuch as willows will aggressively send roots doto reach water, leading to clogged drainage pipTherefore, whenever underdrains are in place, shruand trees with overly aggressive roots should not

planted.

2. Cherry trees should also be avoided in rain garddesigns. Under flooded conditions, cherry tree roots w

release a poison that will kill the tree.3. Finally, other rain gardeners suggest that you keep t

planting design simple by using fewer varieties of plathat are most suited to the conditions of the site. This w

also allow you to find out what works best in your rain gardeand then plant more when needed.

For more assistance with selecting the appropriate trees, consthe Home and Garden Information Centers Fact Sheet Tree Select

(HGIC 1004) available at www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic .

PLANTING OPTIONS

THE FUN PART

he perk test, dig a hole in therea where the rain garden will

be installed. The hole should bepproximately the size of a coffeean. Fill the hole with water. How

many inches does it drop in anhour? Ideally, it should be 1 to 6nches. Given that the sites soils

are well-drained,have the soils test-ed by your localextension office.The results will rec-ommend any nec-essary amenities toinclude in the soilmix so that yourplants will have thebest conditions forsuccess.

To correctly sizeyour rain garden,determine the areaof imperviousness

that drains to the depression. Forgutters with a downspout at eachend of the sloped roof, simplydivide the size of the roof in half.Then estimate 20 and 30 percent

of that roof area; the rain gardenshould be sized to meet that rangein area. The sandier your soils in

the depression, the closer to the20 percent size estimate for yourrain garden.

Installing an underdrain is a way toensure that your rain garden infil-trates if a large volume of waterwill be draining to the depression,or if the native soils prevent prop-

er infiltration. Drainage pipes areplastic and range from 4 to 8 inchesin diameter and may be corrugated.The pipe should be installed 3.5 to5 feet below the surface, envel-oped in washedgravel and overlaidwith geotextile fabric.


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fter the plants are installed, the rain garden should bemulched with 3 to 4 inches of hardwood mulch. A pine

ark mulch is too lightweight and could float out with theext storm.

is important to remember that a rain garden is sll a gar -en and requires some maintenance. The plants have theirwn horcultural needs, and not all plants will survive theondions within the rain garden. Plants should be in-pected seasonally, and the rain garden itself should be in-

pected aer major rainfalls to ensure that the plants, soilnd mulch are stable within the depression. Weeding wille necessary to reduce unwanted compeon in your rainarden. Finally, any debris that ows into the rain garden should be removed.

LOCATION, LOCATION,

LOCATION

ADDITIONAL RAIN GARDEN

POSSIBILITIES

Typically, rain gardens are installed to

reat rooop, lawn and driveway runo

t residences. From a rooops down-

pout, rain gardens should be sited down-

gradient, and water can travel through a

1 percent sloped ditch (1 foot drop in el-

evaon over 100 feet of distance), guer

extender, or from a hose connected to a

ain barrel. Partnering rain barrels with

ain gardens makes sense, as the barrel

will act as a seling basin for any solidsunning o of the rooop.

f having a guer extender over the lawn

roubles you, it can be buried under-

ground unl it reaches the rain garden.

Rain gardens can be installed at almost

ny property or facility with an impervi-

ous surface and some area that will be

used for the treatment from that imper-

vious runo. The following are some ex-mples of how rain gardens can be used

within the landscape:

Corner of barns to capture and inl-

rate runo.

Recessed parking lot islands.

Schools where the rain garden can

double as an outdoor classroom.

Highway medians.

Cornus orida (Flowering Dogwood)Andy & Sally Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildower Center

4


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Observe how long it takes

for your rain garden to com-

pletely drain and monitor

how that may change each

season. As for keeping mos-quitoes at bay, rain gardens

also attract dragonflies which

feed on mosquitoes.

Many homeowners ask about

the cost of rain gardens. Rain

gardens can be inexpensive

features in your landscape.

Ask for help from family and

friends in the installat

of your rain garden - y

can always help them bu

theirs, too! The main c

will be plants. Remem

rain gardens do not n

to be crowded with plaand many of the plants

ommended in the follow

pages grow in a clump

style, which will fill in m

each season.

In times of drought, y

rain garden may need to

irrigated.

Mosquitoes require 7 to 12 days in standing

water to lay and hatch eggs. Typically, rain

gardens will drain in under 24 hours, therefore

removing any mosquito concerns.

MOSQUITO CONCERNS

AND OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

hoto by Sarah L. Voisin, published in The Washington

Poston 7/12/2008

MOUNTAINS (MT)

PIEDMONT (PD)

SANDHILLS AND

SOUTHEASTERN

PLAINS (SH)

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

AND SOUTHERN

COASTAL PLAIN (CP)

LANDFORM REGIONS OF SC

andorm regions o South Carolina

nd the soil characteristics within

hese dierent regions can serve as a

guideline to plant suitability throughout

he state. Use the two-letter abbreviation in

he tables below to identiy plants that may

or may not readily grow in each region. In

he tables below, ALL reers to plant ap-

propriateness across the state. NA reers to

normation that was not available at the

me o publication.


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PERENNIALS

& GRASSES

Polygonatum biurom (Solomons Sea

Norman G. Flaigg, Lady Bird Johnson W

ower Center

6

SC

REGION

NATIVE

TO SC? SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

SH to CP Nave Aletris farinosa Unicorn Root

Yellow-green, grass-like leaves for 2-3.5', s

stem at top holds spike-like cluster of smal

white, urn-shaped flowers.

ALL Nave Andropogon gerardii Big Bluestem

Blue-green color, deep roots, drought-resi

tawny color in fall; full sun; tall, reaching 6

ALL Nave Aquilegia canadensis Columbine

Erect branching perennial, up to 2' tall; shoflowers with yellow stamens; best in shade

well-drained soils; 3-5 year lifespan, but re

seeds easily.

CP and PD Nave Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed

Pink bloom in mid-summer, valuable to

buerflies; suitable for coast and piedmon

sun; 2-4' tall; small rose-purple flowers.

ALL Nave Asclepias tuberosa Buerfly Milkweed

Striking and rugged plant with orange flow

aracts buerflies. Slow to establish; easy

grow from seed. Full sun and 2-3' tall.

NA Nave Aster novae-angliae New England Aster

Deep violet flowers in fall, fuzzy seedheads

drought-tolerant; can be 2-6' tall; may hav

flowers at one me.

ALL Nave Athyrium filix-femina Lady Fern

18-36", yellow-green to medium-green fro

part to full shade, clump-forming. Great in

background and more moist areas of the r

garden. Should be watered under dry

condions.

CP and SH Nave Canna glauca Canna Lily

Grows approximately 3-4' high. Blooms fr

April through October in red, orange, andyellows. Very tropical looking.

ALL Nave Carex stricta Tussock Sedge

Clump-forming, grass-like, emergent plant

used by waterfowl.

ALL Nave Chasmanthium lafolium River Oats

Tolerates dry soils, shade; dangling oats ar

ornamental and copper in fall; clump form

ALL* Nave Chelone glabra White Turtlehead

Snapdragon-type white flowers, oen lave

nged. Robust perennial, 1-4' tall; aracv

hummingbirds and buerflies; suitable for

piedmont; sun.


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LEFT: Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), Joseph A. Marcus, Lady

Bird Johnson Wildower Center

BELOW: Helianthus angusfolia (Swamp Sunower), Andy & Sally

Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildower Center

SC

REGION

NATIVE

TO SC? LATIN NAME COMMON NAME PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

MT Nave Chelone lyonii Pink Turtlehead

Snapdragon-type pink flowers. Robust

perennial, 1-4' tall; aracve to hummingbirds

and buerflies; suitable for piedmont; sun.

MT Nave Dennstaeda punclobula Hayscented Fern

Spreads rapidly; fragrant foliage, light green

turning yellow in fall.

PD and

MT Nave Dryopteridaceae marginalis

Evergreen Wood

Fern Grows to 36", full shade, bluish-green blades.

SH to CP Nave Eupatorium coelesnum Blue Mist Flower

Misty blue flowers; spreads quickly; tolerates

many soils, especially suited to heavy textured

and highly organic soils; salt-tolerant; up to 3'

tall; full sun to part shade.

ALL Nave Eupatorium fistulosum Joe Pye Weed

Rapid growers can be 6' tall with wide heads of

pink or purple flowers that aract buerflies;

no salinity tolerance.

ALL Nave Geranium maculatum Spoed Geranium

Lavender to pink flowers; semi-evergreen, low

fragrant foliage; 1-3' tall.

ALL Nave Helianthus angusfolius

Swamp Sunflower,

Narrowleaf

Sunflower

Tall yellow daisies with maroon centers; good

seed source; salt-tolerant.

ALL

Non-

Nave Hemerocallis spp. any hybrids Daylily

Many types of daylilies, and their colors and

height vary. Require well-drained soil and 1" of

water per week in summer months. Clump-

forming and can be divided in spring and fall.

Full sun.

SH to PD Nave Heuchera americana

Alumroot, Coral

bells

Semi-evergreen groundcover with wine color in

winter; airy flowers.

NA Nave Hibiscus coccineus

Scarlet Rosemallow;

Texas Star Mallow

4-7' tall. Divided blooms greater than 6" in

width, July through September. Full sun.

ALL Nave Hibiscus moscheutos

Rose Mallow; Marsh

mallow hibiscus

Shrubby and 3-8' tall, with huge white to pink

flowers; can grow near water; salt-tolerant;

numerous sturdy stems from a single crown.

Strikingly showy.


8/16

ABOVE LEFT: Geranium maculatum (Spoed Geranium), William Jusce, courtesy of Smithsonian Instuon; ABOVE MIDDLE: Vero

noveboracensis (Ironweed), Stefan Bloodworth, Lady Bird Johnson Wildower Center; ABOVE RIGHT: Eupatorium coelesnum (Mis

ower), William Jusce, courtesy of Smithsonian Instuon8

SC

REGION

NATIVE


CP and

MT Nave Liatris spicata

Gayfeather, Blazing

Star

Easy to grow; spikes of lavender flowers, ne

and seed valuable; salt-tolerant; straight an

slender perennial, reaching 3-4'. Tall spike o

rayless, rose-purple flower heads.

ALL Nave Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower

Brilliant red flower spikes, loved by buerfly

and hummingbirds; sun to shade; 1-6'; show

red flowers in 8" terminal spikes.

ALL Nave Lobelia siphilica Blue Lobelia

Bright blue flowers aracve to hummingbi

sun to shade, 2-3' in height.

ALL Nave Lysimachia ciliata Fringed loosestrife

Yellow, erect to sprawling, somemes

branched perennial, usually 1-2' tall. Yellow

flowers droop from stalks.

NA Nave Monarda didyma Beebalm

Fragrant foliage, red to purple flowers,

hummingbirds and buerflies; dense, round

clusters of flowers. 3' tall; leaves have a mi

aroma; vigorously colonizes.

MT Nave Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot;

Horsemint

Fragrant foliage, lavender flowers,

hummingbirds and buerflies; sun to part

shade; ensure good circulaon to avoid mild

problems. Vigorously colonizes. 1-3' tall.

CP Nave Monarda punctata Spoed mint

Fragrant foliage, dusty pink flowers, arac

to hummingbirds and buerflies; salt-tolera

ranges from 6" to 3' tall.

ALL Nave Onoclea cinnamomea Cinnamon Fern

3-4' tall. Part sun to shade. Ideal for back dr

and more moist areas of the rain garden.

ALL Nave Onoclea sensibilis Sensive Fern

Spreads easily; lush green, rusty-gold in fall,

spore heads persist.

ALL Nave Osmunda regalis Royal Fern

Suitable for coast to mountains; 2-3' tall; pa

shade to shade.


9/16

SC

REGION

NATIVE


ALL Nave Panicum virgatum Switch Grass

Very tolerant of flooding; fuzzy flower heads;

good erosion control; suitable for coast to

mountains; sun.

ALL Nave Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant

Pink or purple spikes of tubular flowers;

spreads rapidly in moist soils.

ALL Nave Polygonatum biflorum

Great Solomon's

Seal

Lily family; graceful arching stem, pendulous

flowers (oen hidden) greenish-white and bel

like; blue berries follow flowers; 1-3' full shade

ALL Nave Rudbeckia laciniata

Tall Coneflower;

Cutleaf Coneflower

Great for stream banks; yellow daisies with

green center; seed source.

ALL Nave Schizachyrium scoparium Lile Bluestem

2-3' in height, clumping warm-season grass; fu

sun; aracts birds and mammals. Suitable for

coast; ornamental, slender blue-green stemsturn radiant mahogany-red with white shining

seed tus in the fall, color remains all winter.

CP and

coastal

zone Nave Solidago sempervirens Seaside Goldenrod

Yellow flowers in August through November;

ght clump of narrow, evergreen basal leaves;

2-8' tall; dense flower heads.

ALL Nave Sorghastrum ellio Slender Indiangrass

Evergreen grass with a green-white colouring

year-round.

ALL Nave Tradescana virginiana Virginia Spiderwort

Long-blooming with purple or white flowers,

lightly fragrant; grass-like foliage; iris-like leave

can form larger colonies when in full sun.

ALL Nave Tridens flavus Purpletop Clump-forming; full sun; 4' tall in flower.

ALL Nave Vernonia noveboracensis Ironweed

Tall red-purple flowers aract buerflies;

tolerates inundaon; clump forming, growing

8' in height. Deep green leaves and small

flower heads occur in larger, loosely-branched

clusters.

* Best documented in the Coastal Plain, though should thrive across the state.


10/16

SHRUBS

Cephalanthus

occidentalis

(Buonbush)

Je McMillan @

USDA-NRCS PLANDatabase

SC

REGION

NATIVE


ALL Nave Aronia arbufolia Chokeberry

Up to 8, medium shrub. Red berries persist

winter, scarlet fall color, bank stabilizer.

ALL Nave Baccharis halimifolia

Groundsel Tree; Salt

Myrtle

Up to 10. Salt-tolerant, white flowers beco

fuzzy seed heads in fall; sun to shade.

ALL Nave Callicarpa americana Beautyberry

Up to 6. Striking purple berries on new gro

yellow fall color, sun to part shade; well-sui

for mountains.

ALL Nave Cephalanthus occidentalis Buonbush

Up to 8. Tolerates flooding, white buon

flowers persist, aracts hummingbirds; salt

tolerant.

ALL Nave Clethra alnifolia

Summersweet,

Sweet Pepperbush

Up to 8. Extremely fragrant white or pink

flowers in summer, yellow in fall; salt-tolera

ALL Nave Hypericum prolificum

Shrubby St. John's

Wort

Small shrub with yellow flowers; sun to par

shade; place on upper edges of rain garden

drier areas.

PD Nave Ilex decidua Possumhaw

Up to 15, deciduous, red to yellow berries

persist through winter; aracts birds; suita

for coast.

MT and

PD Nave Ilex glabra Inkberry Holly

Medium shrub, 6-8'; white flowers, black

berries; sun to shade.

ALL Nave Ilex vercillata Winterberry Holly

Medium shrub, 6-10'; white flowers with re

berries; sun to part shade; well-suited for

mountains.

ALL Nave Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Holly

Up to 20'. White flowers, red berries, long

lasng translucent scarlet berries, many

culvars, evergreen; full sun to part shade;

suitable for coast.

ALL

Non-

Nave Indigofera amblyantha Pink Indigo Bush

4-6' tall. Pink flowers with seed pod; full su

part shade.

ALL Nave Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire

Medium shrub. Fragrant white tassel flowe

deep red or purple fall foliage; sun to shade

well-suited for piedmont.

PD Nave Lindera benzoin Spicebush

Up to 8. Very early chartreuse flowers, frag

leaves, pale yellow fall color; part shade to

shade; suitable for coast.

0


11/16

ABOVE:

Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon Holly)

Joseph A. Marcus, Lady Bird Johnson Wildower Center

LEFT:

Calicarpa americana (Beautyberry)

SC

REGION

NATIVE


PD to CP Nave Myrica cerifera Waxmyrtle

15-20'. Fragrant evergreen leaves, berries for

candles, can prune as hedge; sun to part shade

SH Nave Philadelphus inodorus Mock Orange

6-12' globular shrub with upright branching.

Older bark is orange-brown and exfoliang.

Large, white, sweet scented flowers.

PD to MT Nave Rhododendron maximum

Rosebay

Rhododenron; great

laurel

Large shrub. Found in northwest corner of SC

piedmont and mountains; evergreen, thicket-

forming shrub or tree with short, crooked

trunk, large white blossoms; largest leaves of

all rhododendrons, also one of the hardiest.

ALL Nave Rhododendron viscosum Swamp Azalea

Up to 6. Very sweet fragrant white flowers in

summer; part shade.

PD, SH,

southern

CP Nave Rosa carolina Carolina Rose

Small shrub; pink to white flowers, red hip; ful

sun.

SH to CP Nave Sabal minor Dwarf Palmeo

Up to 5'. Nave palm that slowly spreads; blac

berries; drought-tolerant; suitable for coast.

ALL Nave Sambucus canadensis Elderberry

Up to 10. Large white flowers and edible

purple berries, fast growing thickets (new

growth of American elder can be fatal to

livestock).

SH to CP Nave Serenoa repens Saw Palmeo

5-12' tall. White flowers, purplish-black drupe;

sun to part shade.

MT to PD Nave Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry

5-12' tall. White to pink flowers, blue berry; su

to part shade; salt-tolerant.

CP Nave Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood

Up to 10. White flowers, bright blue berry

clusters, very tolerant of many soils.


12/16

TREESSC

REGION

NATIVE


ALL Nave Amelanchier canadensis ServiceberryUp to 15. Mul-stem grey bark, white flowe

early purple berries, red in fall; salt-tolerant

ALL Nave Betula nigra River BirchUp to 50. Good bank stabilizer, beauful

peeling bark, yellow fall color; salt-tolerant.

ALL Nave Carpinus caroliniana American HornbeamUp to 30'. Shade-tolerant, takes inundaon,

unique silver fluted trunk.

ALL Nave Cels occidentalis HackberryUp to 40. Tolerates poor soils and salt,

excellent stabilizer, yellow fall color.

ALL Nave Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlanc White Cedar

Up to 40-50'. Full sun; red or yellow (male) o

green (female) flowers; coastal habitat is

suitable, though adaptable across the state.

ALL Nave Chionanthus virginicus FringetreeUp to 20. Can be shrubby; fragrant pendulo

white flowers and gold fall color.

ALL Nave Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood

Height is 20-40'. Single or mul-trunked tree

with spreading crown and long-lasng white

and pink spring blooms. Red fruits and scarl

autumn foliage.

ALL Nave Crataegus aesvalisMayhaw, May

Hawthorn

Up to 20. Thorns aracve to nesng birds

red fruit, purple to scarlet in fall.

ALL Nave Ilex opaca American Holly

Up to 40-50'. Sun to shade; evergreen, slow

growing, ornamental red berries on femaleplants, white flowers.

ALL Nave Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia

Up to 20. Semi-evergreen, fragrant flowers

bright red berries, oen mul-stem; sun to

shade.

ALL Nave Nyssa sylvacaBlack Gum, Black

Tupelo

Up to 30-50'. Tolerates flooding or dry rocky

uplands, spectacular scarlet in fall; sun to pa

shade; suitable for coast.

NA Nave Sassafras albidum SassafrasUp to 30-60';. Full sun to part shade; yellow

flowers, aracts birds.

2


13/16

SAMPLE RAIN GARDEN DESIGNS

Rain Garden Illustrations by Renee Byrd


14/16

HOW MUCH MULCH DO I NEED?

To calculate the total cubic yards o mulch needed

or your rain garden project, ollow these steps:

1. Multiply the length o your rain garden by the

width to nd the square ootage.

2. Multiply that square ootage by 0.25, which

will equate to 3 inches o mulch.

3. Divide that value by 27 to yield cubic yards o

mulch needed or your project.

The table to the right can be used to quickly esti-

mate the necessary amount o mulch to purchase

based on various depths o mulch.

Remember not to pile mulch alongside the stem

o plants. Mulch is moist and can lead to rotting

around the stem.

Also, remember to break up any mulch that

may be dry or clumped together as you

spread it over your rain garden.

* Using the table above, 1 cubic yard o mulch will cover 10

t. with 3 o mulch.4

Rain Garden Illustrations by Renee Byrd

1" 2" 3"

1 338 sq. ft. 158 sq. ft. 108 sq

2 676 sq. ft. 316 sq. ft. 216 sq

3 1014 sq. ft. 474 sq. ft. 324 sq

4 1352 sq. ft. 632 sq. ft. 432 sq

5 1690 sq. ft. 790 sq. ft. 540 sq

6 2028 sq. ft. 948 sq. ft. 648 sq7 2366 sq. ft. 1106 sq. ft. 756 sq

8 2704 sq. ft. 1264 sq. ft. 864 sq

9 3042 sq. ft. 1422 sq. ft. 972 sq

10 3380 sq. ft. 1580 sq. ft. 1080 sq

11 3718 sq. ft. 1738 sq. ft. 1188 sq

12 4056 sq. ft. 1896 sq. ft. 1296 sq

Rain Garden Squ are Feet an d MulcCoverage based o n DepthCub ic Yard s

of Mulch


15/16

Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)

Andy & Sally Wasowski,

Lady Bird Johnson Wildfower Center

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

More inormation about stormwater and Clem-

on Universitys involvement in stormwater edu-

ation in South Carolina can be ound online at

www.clemson.edu/carolinaclear.

our local cooperative extension oce can also

rovide important soil sample, plant and pest

normation. To nd the contact inormation orour local extension oce, checkwww.clemson.

du/extension.

or inormation on suppliers o native plants in

outh Carolina, please consult the South Caro-

na Native Plant Society website atwww.scnps.

rg.

Documents and websites consulted in the de-

elopment o this document include the USDA

LANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov);ady Bird Johnson Wildfower Center (www.

wildfower.org); Rain Gardenstri-old brochure

Hitchcock, 2008); Designing Rain Gardens(Bio-

Retention Areas) (Hunt and White, 2001); Rain

Gardens: A How-To Manual for Homeowners

Bannerman and Considine, 2003).

AUTHOR AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Written and Designed by

Clemson University

Public Service Activities

Carolina Clear

Katie Giacalone

The following people are greatly appreciated for the

contribution to this South Carolina rain garden manu

Contributors

Cal Sawyer, Clemson University Center or Watershed Exc

lence; Bill Blackston, Clemson Cooperative Extension Serv

Plant Lists

Gary Forrester, Clemson Cooperative Extension Service; B

Kaemmerlen, Fuss & ONeill; Bob Polomski, Clemson Coo

erative Extension Service; Bill Stringer, Clemson University

and President o the South Carolina Native Plant Society;

Wagner, Clemson University, South Carolina Botanical Ga

Rain Garden Drawings

Renee Byrd, Clemson University Department o Horticult

The Clis Communities Botanical Garden

Asclepias tuberosa (Buerfy Milkweed)

Thomas L. Muller,

Lady Bird Johnson Wildfower Center


16/16

Use this space or your planting design and notes. You may want to include a scale bar and

direction o morning and aternoon sun.

Clemson University offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex,religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

nformation Leaet 87 February 20

South Carolina; Rain Garden: A Rain Garden Manual for South Carolina - Clemson University

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Transcript of South Carolina; Rain Garden: A Rain Garden Manual for South Carolina - Clemson University