Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape

by Andy Clayden, Andy Clayden

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.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Environment, Reference, Landscape Architecture

188 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be about but it was informative. The authors took a much broader definition of "rain garden" than I expected. The book is more about water management in general. In the end, I feel good that my instincts about my own garden are right. I'm on the right track. I just have much more work to do over time. There is a large section covering roof gardens which is something that interests me. Rain water collection and some of the other tools for water management are particularly applicable to our climate in Central Texas. Most of the specific plants though seems to be geared towards the UK. I'm thinking... roof garden, rain chain, rainwater collection, rain garden/swale, detention pond.

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nigel Dunnett and Andy Clayton design really wonderful rain gardens. But the writing in this book is nigh impenetrable. This is not the book for finding practical information on adding rain garden features to your space. It repeats its points about the benefits and theories of rain gardens for at least the first 3 chapters and then keeps vaguely describing rain garden elements without any real practical advice - EXCEPT for some very nice cross sections and illustrations.

[off topic - what is a summerhouse? is it a british thing?)

I dunno, maybe there's more in the last half of the book. But I couldn't get that far.

However, I would employ these fellows to transform my rainsucking yard anytime.

Also, I now want a green roof. And I really like the word "swale"

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot more "why" than "how to". They don't even get to designing your own until p 161 and only runs 7 pages. An additional 10 pages in the previous chapter is helpful for planning, but this book is nowhere as specific as some others. It focuses more broadly on a variety of bioretention techniques, and most of the case studies (there are many!) are on a larger scale than a household. Creating Rain Gardens is much more practical for a home gardener.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a flip through for me. I'm currently looking for actionable steps for putting in a rain garden. The book contains a lot of case studies and examples, which could be inspirational for future projects, but not quite what I'm needing at the moment. It does also contain a decent amount of vocab it is good to know and covers a WIDE variety of water management - not just rain gardens, so the title is a bit of a misnomer.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three quarters of this book read like an academic journal. It isn’t written as a practical how-to for a homeowner looking to build a rain garden in their yard. But the book seems to think it is a offering practical advice despite all its references of “case studies “.
The real tell is that the book entitled Rain Garden defines the term on page 139 of a 164 page book (minus plant directories). If it were practical shouldn’t that be on page 1?

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain gardens were born in Maryland!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had great ideas for both large and small scale design. Another great intro rain gardens & storm water design

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about how to manage rain water runoff from human development like roads, roofs, etc. It is a great book for people trying to deal with excess runoff in an aesthetic way. What it isn't is a book about gardens. While the authors do include a list of perennial plants that thrive in rain gardens they do not address shrubs or trees. While the ideas shown are great, I fear that they will not generally fit Americans goal of manicured weed free mono-cultures!

[Lisa]

Dunnett gives a solid overview of not just rain gardens but a whole suite of water management features. Each piece is presented as part of a coherent whole in the stormwater chain. The scope feels a little limited at times with its focus on a smaller scale and DIY projects. The examples, however, are primarily professional work with a great set of images for inspiration.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually way more intense, holistic, and design-oriented than what I was looking for, but I loved it. It really got me thinking about the whole picture or "storm water chain." It's a little beyond what I'm going to be doing right now, but I'll be back to this book!

[Sally Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderful. There is a fair amount of municipal type projects that I like to look at, but the bones of home integrated water catchment systems were most helpful. I want my own copy.

[Tracy]

Another book I didn't read completely - was based in the UK and contained a lot of ideas that I wouldn't be able to implement in my own home.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to introduce the idea of rain gardens. It shows many examples; however, this is a starter book. You need to go elsewhere for more details.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the concepts used around the world in rain gardening. This was developed in Maryland. You will learn about stormwater planters, permeable paving, natural pons, green roofs,etc.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational but would have liked to have known more about storing and using rain water in the house, certainly got the garden and landscape sorted now.

[Lucia]

opl has a copy

[Isabella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want a green roof.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

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