Rain gardens are an aesthetically pleasing type of water feature that also serves a very important purpose for property owners. They are an eco-friendly drainage solution that can filter runoff before it soaks in to a nearby body of water, or the local ground water. In fact, rain gardens have been shown to vastly improve water quality surrounding certain properties and are promoted nationally as a low impact development (LID) practice.

Rain GardenStorm water and rainwater runoff is generated when it is forced to flow down impervious surfaces such as driveways and other cement structures. The runoff will typically direct itself where gravity demands, creating drainage problems. This usually manifests itself in the form of a large puddle in an unwanted area of your property but it can also create issues that you are unable to see.

During large rainfalls, rain gardens will soak in the runoff and allow it to permeate in to the ground water at a regular pace while simultaneously filtering contaminants out. Root systems allow the soil to have a denser filtration process, and control the penetration rate of the runoff so that the ground water never becomes overwhelmed and allows nature to run its course.

The beauty of rain gardens is that they have a very functional purpose that protects your property during heavy rainfall without standing out visually. They can be designed in a number of ways to compliment your property and can be placed in a manner that creates a balanced look. There are very few drainage options which have this type of naturally visual versatility.

The first step in designing a rain garden is by contacting Neave Aquatics to have a specialist visit your commercial or residential property. This person will assess the water holding capacity required to alleviate your drainage problem, and make recommendations for the location and plant life necessary to create an efficient and visually interesting rain garden. Local vegetation that is accustomed to your particular climate is usually recommended for rain gardens but there are some exceptions and your Neave Aquatics contractor will be able to explain the best possible solutions for your particular situation.

Rain gardens are then installed in the required areas to help mitigate and pace the penetration of rain water in to the ground water. They are usually placed around driveways on residential properties, and around parking lots and walkways on commercial properties. After they are installed, you will notice a dramatic improvement in your drainage.

While rain gardens are an excellent, eco-friendly solution to your drainage problem they are not always the only element required to properly alleviate your issues. In more complicated situations, Neave Aquatics will make recommendations to improve drainage that may include the installation of bioswales, French drains or other solutions to properly protect your property. If required we will work with the specialists from Neave Storm Water to maximize the efficiency of your rain garden.

Contact Neave Aquatics today to resolve your drainage issues and find out more about our beautiful, practical and environmentally beneficial rain gardens!