Expert Landscape Architects and Designers in Plano, TX

A dry stream bed consists of a meandering channel that is lined with various stones such as moss boulders, river rock and gravel for a naturalistic look. A well-designed stream bed is used to control the flow of rainwater through the garden, typically from a downspout or runoff from an impermeable surface like a patio area. It directs the water to a lower area that can handle the volume, such as a flower bed or sod, allowing it to infiltrate slowly into the soil instead of draining to the street or storm drain. This helps reduce flooding, runoff pollution, and the need for irrigation, while also protecting the foundation of the home. It can also be used as a walkway.

Soil management on sloped lots is the primary function of retaining walls. They present a barrier that prevents soil from shifting or sliding down-slope, especially when there is heavy rain or lack of trees or other vegetation to hold soil in place. This in turn provides erosion control, controls the flow of water, and creates usable planting space.

During drought, a rain garden captures every elusive drop to keep our landscapes lush and green. In periods of heavy rain, rain gardens ease the force of flooding and erosion by allowing storm water to infiltrate slowly into the ground. In the long run, rain gardens also save money by conserving water, and reducing maintenance and energy use. The reduction in the need for chemical controls makes them a healthier environment for everyone: children, adults, and the native wildlife. Last but not least, rain gardens add an element of natural beauty without the back-breaking effort of a high-maintenance landscape! This is something you can truly enjoy season after season.

Reducing stormwater runoff means less severe flooding, less erosion, less pollution and sediment entering our rivers and lakes and overall less reliance on water to keep our landscapes lush and colorful. Urbanization has increased the impervious surfaces (roof-tops, concrete, patios, even lawns) in our environment. Water runs right off impenetrable surfaces and into storm drains, picking up chemicals and waste along the way, ultimately contaminating our streams and lakes. Runoff prevents the recharge of groundwater, as we also lose water for landscape irrigation. Instead we rely on treated municipal water, adding to the demand on an increasingly stressed water supply. Rain gardens create a natural process of capturing, absorbing and filtering water, so your landscape can take advantage of precious rainfall, and our impact on our stressed Eco-system is minimized.

Although rain gardens can be relatively costly to construct, they often replace maintenance intensive landscape areas, so net costs over time become considerably less than conventional landscapes. In addition, the use of rain gardens can decrease the cost for stormwater conveyance systems at a site. Costs are estimated at $10 to $12 per square foot to construct [source] .