The idea of upkeeping a home rain garden may be daunting for some, but getting a better picture of the time and money budgeted for such may help ease the mind. Though rain gardens do require maintenance like any garden, the amount of labor decreases with time. Every garden is different and maintenance can depend on the plant species, size, and climate of the rain garden, but here is an overview of what might be expected:

Pruning (1-2 per year)

Pruning helps direct the growth of plants, which improves plant health and increases production of flowers. A rain garden is slightly different than the procedure for an ordinary garden in that dense shrub growth is encouraged. The shrubs help absorb, deflect and filter out water, which increases the filtering capacity of the rain garden. This can be done by removing lower branches fully or partially to create a denser shrub. Additionally, tattered and discolored plants should be “deadheaded” after spring in order to produce new succeeding growths.

Mowing (2-12 per year)

Mowing is necessary after growing season to remove stems and seedheads. String trimmer or mowers (with mowing deck raised to 6-8”) can be used to remove dead plant materials, and the former may be used to regulate over-competitive growths. Mowing should be done at least twice a year, as native graces should be cut after the first few weeks of early growth (early spring) and mid-may, but other areas may be mowed as deemed necessary.

Watering (2-7 per week initially, then sporadically)

Watering will generally be taken care of by the stormwater system of the rain garden, but additionally watering will be needed during the initial growth of the rain garden. The garden should be watered once every 2-4 days for the first 1-2 months, but then can be watered sporadically after.

Replanting (anually)

The survival rate of plants in a rain garden will increase with time; around 10% of plants will die the first year, will decrease annually. If there are any areas of exposed soil or are needing more protection, that section should be reseeded or built up, respectively. Any rocks diverting flow out of the garden should be replaced.

inlet/outlet inspection (1 after first rain, then montly during rain season)

Accumulated sediment is a sign of success of the rain garden, as their very purpose is to direct that away from waterways. Carefully, avoiding plants, remove accumulated sediment with a flat shovel. Make sure that the sediment isn’t coming from the garden itself, as this can sometimes occur in early stages.

Miscellaneous upkeep (monthly)

These tasks do not have to be strictly done by an exact schedule, but should be done every month. These tasks include:

Collecting trash
Checking plant health
Spot weeding
Removing invasive species
Removing mulch