SMALL ECOSYSTEM

June 10, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

youngstown

Justin Rogers explained how a rain garden assists in storm water management and creates a wildlife habitat to some 50 people who attended a recent Jubilee Garden kick-off luncheon at First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave.

The planning manager and landscape architect at Mill Creek MetroParks was the featured speaker at the gathering of community gardeners.

“A rain garden is a smaller version of the ecosystem,” Rogers said.

Essentially, a rain garden is a shallow depression area to collect runoff from roofs and driveways. The water can be used to seep into the garden and lawn to irrigate it in a controlled way, not a deluge of water. In addition to that purpose, the rain garden captures water at the source before it overwhelms the sewer system in a heavy, sustained rainstorm.

“A rain garden provides a variety of environmental, economic and health benefits,” Rogers said.

In addition to the already mentioned benefits, a rain garden helps reduce pollution from storm water and saves using water.

Rogers stressed to gardeners that planning is essential before digging the first shovel of dirt. Steps to take are: deciding on location, assessing drainage, analyzing soil, creating a design, selecting plants, laying out garden, digging and preparing soil then planting.

“Plants that work well in a wet setting and are native to northeast Ohio are best choices,” Rogers said.

The Valley in general, he said, has poor, clay soil. “It has to be amended to improve the soil.” That’s done by adding sand and compost.

Rogers said Mill Creek has an example of a rain garden at MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield. Located near McMahon Hall, the rain garden is in a “high profile area,” said Rogers. It was constructed in the summer of 2011.

There, it is an educational tool for the 30,000 some students who visit the farm annually along with other visitors.

The 2,300-square-foot garden has three basins to collect water from downspouts; river gravel and mulch create an interesting landscape for the plants.

At the MetroParks Farm rain garden, a temporary sign explains how a rain garden works. Rogers said a permanent sign should be installed this summer. It notes rain gardens don’t hold water for more than 24 to 48 hours so there is no need to worry about mosquitoes.