Rainscaping Guide: What Do You Know About Your Site?

Check with your local municipality for landscaping regulations that may apply in your community.

You may want to create a scaled drawing of existing conditions. Mapping the property in a scaled drawing provides key information as to where rainwater management practices can be implemented. In addition, this will help you identify problem areas in the landscape that need to be solved. Then you can create a drawing that incorporates your chosen designs.

Download graph paper to begin making your scaled drawing
Download drawing instructions and an example

Consider including the following in your drawing (click on each topic in the flowchart below to view that section):

What Do You Know About Your Site flowchartIdentify Slope & Drainage

Indicating where slopes exist and to which direction they drain will give a clear picture of those areas that contribute to rainwater runoff and may be prone to erosion. Be sure to assess whether your slopes are steep, moderate or gentle.

Continue on to Identify Human Use Areas

 

Link to Identify Problem Areas section Link to Identify Slope and Drainage section Link to Identify Human Use Areas section Link to Identify Existing Vegetation section Link to Identify Shade/Sun Patterns section Link to Understand Your Soil section Link to Is a Rain Garden Right for Your Site section
Rainscaping Guide Quick Links