A Guide to Rain Gardens in South Carolina
Publication
Kim Morganello
Water Resources Associate
Clemson Extension
Charleston
Team Members:
Morganello, K1, Scaroni, A2
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Water Resources Extension Agent, Clemson Extension, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401
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Extension Associate, Clemson Extension, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401
Abstract
"A Guide to Rain Gardens in South Carolina" was published in December 2016. The document was developed by Clemson Extension and the Carolina Clear program to provide step-by-step instructions on how to design, build, plant and maintain a residential-scale rain garden. Rain gardens can help residents manage erosion and moisture control issues, direct stormwater runoff, provide for wildlife habitat, beautify the home landscape and help protect clean water downstream; for these reasons, rain gardens are a recommended best practice of Clemson Extension. In the 2016 Rain Garden Guide, text is broken up using color coded headers, bulletted lists and text boxes for "pro tips" and "pop quiz." This guide uses photographs depicting construction actions such as percolation testing, soil preparation, roof area measurement, berm establishment and more. Diagrams and a rain garden sizing worksheet are included for added function and aesthetics. Multiple rain garden drawings are included to assist with design choices and a plant list provided to assist with appropriate plant selection. Two resource pages provide links to complementing resources such as the Clemson Extension Virtual Rain Garden and the Carolina Yards plant database. The Guide to Rain Gardens in South Carolina is intended for residential audiences with the two-fold objective of helping to learn about rain gardens and their potential to protect local water quality, and to provide readers with step-by-step instructions on how to design, build, plant and maintain a residential rain garden. The document was first printed in November 2016 with 1000 copies made. The document is available for purchase at Clemson University Marketplace as well as available as a free download at clemson.edu/raingarden. As of March 2017, over 200 print copies of the manual have been distributed with this number expected to rise at spring workshops and public events. The document was co-authored by Kim Morganello, Clemson Extension Agent, and Dr. Amy Scaroni, Clemson Extension Associate. Contributions and peer review was provided by multiple Clemson Associate Professors, Water Resource and Horticulture Extension Agents, the Director for the Center for Watershed Excellence, a Master Gardener and a professional landscape architect. For years to come, this nearly 20-page rain garden guide will serve as a Clemson Extension resource both in print and digitally.
Years of CES Service: 0
Publication