Caring for your LID Features
Though this summer has been hot and dry, taking proactive measures now can help prepare your yard for a wetter fall. Rain-ready, or low-impact development (LID), features such as rain gardens, soakaways and rain barrels need regular monitoring and maintenance to manage stormwater effectively in your yard. Here are three tips to keep your LID features functioning properly this summer:
1. Ensure the flow of rainwater in and out of your rain-ready feature isn’t blocked. Remove sediment and debris, such as leaves, twigs and mulch, from the inlet and outlet of your rain garden and/or soakaway. This is especially important for newer gardens where plants have had less than 18 months to establish. Once plants get larger and cover more of the garden, they slow and trap debris themselves, resulting in fewer blockages at the outlet. If your rain barrel has a screen to filter downspout debris, regularly remove any buildup.
2. Protect the soil. Shredded wood mulch can help enhance the soil in your yard. Keeping a seven to 10 centimetre layer of mulch over the soil in your rain garden or soakaway can reduce water evaporation, limit erosion and add nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. If rainwater from the downspout is causing soil erosion where the outlet enters the garden, consider a longer downspout, splash block or expanding the gravel area to reduce the force of the water.
3. Water new plants during a drought. For the first year, new plants will need slow, deep watering to establish healthy roots. In the second and third years, watering may be necessary during prolonged dry periods. Water plants at their base in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation. If you are finding that some plants are struggling in your yard, review our plant guides to see which native species would do best in your garden.