8th Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principle
(This article is taken, with the author's permission, from the "Gardener's Journal, November 2020. This journal is available free from the Sumter County Master Gardeners. )
When I moved to central Florida, I noticed that my downspouts ran directly onto the grass in my backyard. This made mowing difficult and created wet areas for fungus to grow on the grass. I dug up the sod and placed mulch in that area but the mulch washed into the grass. I guess I needed to learn about the 8th FloridaFriendly™ Landscape Principle, Reduce Stormwater Runoff.
Concepts
When it rains, some water runs off your yard and driveway into streets and sewers and then into “surface” water like ponds and streams. This is called stormwater runoff. This runoff can carry pollutants like plant debris, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, or vehicle oil that can clog the surface water and reduce the oxygen. This can cause algae bloom and subsequently fish kills.
This surface water is connected to the “groundwater,” or better known as the Floridan aquifer, by sinkholes and springs. The aquifer is an underground cave system and supplies almost all of our water for daily use. Because the aquifer is close to the surface, those pollutants could potentially make the water in the aquifer toxic and undrinkable.
Prevention
We can’t prevent the rain, but we can prevent some stormwater runoff. First of all, make sure sprinklers are directed to your yard and not to your driveway or street. Check them periodically to make sure they are working properly. Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly. After yard maintenance, sweep up grass, fertilizer, and soil from your driveway and street back onto your yard. Make sure downspouts are watering your plants or lawn and not your driveway or street. Extend downspouts farther out in your yard to help protect your home’s foundation. Pick up after your pet. Use mulch, gravel, or other porous surfaces for walkways in your yard.
Raingarden
Consider making a “rain garden” if you have low areas that tend to stay wet. It can be any shape or size. Make sure the area is 6 inches to a foot lower than the rest of your yard. Place pebbles in the bottom and line with rocks or mulch that does not float, like pine needles. (You might want to make a soil “berm” opposite the downspout.) Plant water-loving plants around the area and they will flourish.
Rain Barrel
To save some rainwater consider installing a rain barrel. They can capture a significant amount of water for watering both indoor and newly planted outdoor plants. Place the rain barrel under a downspout. Be sure the top is covered with a screen to make it mosquito-proof. There should have a spigot near the bottom and an overflow opening near the top. To be sure a watering can or bucket can fit under the spigot, you can mount the rain barrel on top of concrete blocks.
I made a rain garden and planted it with water-loving plants such as blue-eyed grass and swamp sunflower. I water it when dry with rain barrel water. I even purchased an overflow attachment, a frog with a large mouth, and enjoy watching the water spew out during our heavy Florida rains.
Photos courtesy of UF/IFAS
More Rain Garden Resources
Prairie Nursery Blog Rain Gardents
What if all streets were lined with rain gardens? Think of the benefit to water quality and life. What if rain gardens were as common as lawns?
