Synopses & Reviews
Rain Gardens describes how gardeners and professional landscapers can make the most of the rainwater that falls on a property by using a range of strategies to collect and store this increasingly precious commodity. By capturing, channeling, filtering, and diverting water using the innovative and attractive methods described here, it is possible to enhance outdoor spaces and minimize the damaging effects of drought, stormwater runoff, and other environmental challenges.
First, it is important to understand how the rainwater cycle works: what happens to rain after it falls on our buildings, streets, parks, and gardens? One of the effects of the built environment is that rainwater is drawn off into drains and reservoirs instead of flowing back into the environment. Essentially, rain gardens endeavor to mimic the natural environment using various methods to capture rainwater and hold on to it for as long as possible. Even quite simple techniques are effective, such as rain chains that carry water from gutters into collections barrels, and diverting downpipes. The book goes on to explore more elaborate systems using case studies from all over the world that feature filtration banks, stormwater planters, green roofs, and bioretention schemes. Plant selection and planting plays an important role in rain gardens and a comprehensive directory provides lists of plants suitable for different purposes. This important book will enhance our gardens and public spaces and heighten awareness of the crucial role rainwater plays in our environment.
Review
"Here you can learn how to capture rain and snowmelt runoff, how to disconnect your downspouts, create a green roof, bioretention ponds, storm-water chains and permeable paving."
Synopsis
Rain gardens encompass all possible elements that can be used to capture, channel, divert and make the most of the rain and snow that fall on a property. Using the innovative and attractive approaches described here, it is possible to enhance outdoor spaces and minimize the damaging effects of drought, stormwater runoff, and other environmental challenges. Nigel Dunnett & Andy Clayden have created a comprehensive guide to water management techniques for the garden and built environment. Filled with practical, manageable solutions for small and large-scale implementations and utilizing authoritative research with state-of-the-art case studies from all over the world, Rain Gardens is the first book on sustainable water management schemes suitable for students and professionals.
Synopsis
Rain gardens encompass all possible elements that can be used to capture, channel, divert and make the most of the rain and snow that fall on a property. They have the potential to make beautiful additions to our environment. Rain Gardens is the first book on sustainable water management schemes suitable for students and professionals.
About the Author
Andy Clayden is a landscape architect, garden designer, and a lecturer at the University of Sheffield, England.
Nigel Dunnett is a Reader in Urban Horticulture in the landscape department at the University of Sheffield, where he has developed innovative research programs on naturalistic and ecologically informed planting for gardens and public landscapes. He is director of The Green Roof Centre, Sheffield, and acts widely as a consultant on green roof design and planting, and sustainable garden and landscape design in general.
He writes regularly for landscape and garden publications, including Gardens Illustrated and The Garden. With Noël Kingsbury he wrote Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls; with Andy Clayden, Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape.