Have you heard about rain gardens? Do you know how they work? If not, we’ve got you covered!Ī rain garden isn’t a garden of rain – it’s actually a garden comprised of native shrubs, flowers, and perennials planted in a shallow hole made for rainwater collection. Maximize the Power of Native Plants with Your Very Own Rain Garden! For more plant-related recommendations, check out these resources from the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties. These plants do well in areas like San Mateo County, meaning you can enjoy a thriving yard that’s both beautiful and environmentally beneficial all season long. When deciding which native plants to surround your permeable walkways and driveway, consider adding Yerba buena, Hummingbird sage, or other climate-friendly plants. The combination of native plants and permeable surface materials prevents harmful chemicals and waste from traveling through the environment when it rains. There are also permeable paving surfaces for driveways and walkways, such as interlocking concrete pavers, porous asphalt, and pervious concrete. These materials allow water to trickle through while filtering out pollutants. Permeable surfaces are areas of land that contain materials such as mulch and turf. Permeable surfaces on the other hand work to counter the effects of runoff from rainwater and irrigation. (Native plants absorb excess rainwater and prevent runoff from reaching impermeable surfaces.) Because native plants are best suited for the semi–Mediterranean climate, their deep roots absorb rainwater and prevent runoff from ever reaching these impermeable surfaces. During this period, the excess rainwater that does not soak into the ground travels on streets and pavements (also known as impermeable surfaces) and will pick up pollutants along the way into storm drains, which drain into local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. San Mateo County receives an average of 24 inches of rain per year, with the rainy season lasting from October to May. California is still in a drought, so make the most of the gift of rain this season and incorporate native plants into your landscape to maximize the benefits of rain while minimizing rainwater runoff pollution! With winter on the horizon and the rainy season among us, now is the time to consider how colder and wetter conditions impact water conservation efforts in our yard and garden. Share a photo of you with your rain barrel setup, tag in your caption on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to include the hashtag #FlowsToBarrel.Īdd yourself to our interactive map to join the San Mateo County Rain Barrel Movement!.Thank you, Kevin, for taking the time to share your experience with your community! Check out Kevin’s rain barrel setup and post series on Instagram you have a rain barrel? You can make a positive impact by helping show the importance of this simple action in San Mateo County! Kevin’s not the handiest guy in the world (his words), so don’t let your handiness skills deter you because setting up the barrel is “incredibly easy.”.Use paver stones to level the ground and provide a platform for your barrel(s).You’ll be shocked at how quickly your rain barrels fill up! When considering how many barrels to get, order more than you think.Here are some other helpful rain barrel tips we picked up from our chat with Kevin: I don’t know why more people aren’t doing it. Water that runs off a roof can be easily reused with very modest alterations. It’s much easier than I thought it would be. Kevin’s biggest takeaway after receiving his barrel? Kevin describes himself as “eco-conscious as the average person who’s just trying to do the best he can.” Interestingly, making a big impact isn’t as challenging as one might think! After participating this year and already seeing an immense payoff, ordering additional barrels next year is a no-brainer for Kevin. Kevin jumped at the chance to order his barrel this year after hearing about the program last year and missing out on ordering a barrel before the program sold out. In his series, Kevin shocked friends and family by revealing that his 50-gallon rain barrel filled up with rainwater in less than a day! San Mateo resident and proud rain barrel program participant, Kevin, shared his excitement on social media through a series of Instagram posts.
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