Starting a downspout bog garden is one of the best things you can do for your home and the environment. It is a great way to make turn waste into something that will improve your homes. A downspout bog garden is garden at the back of your home. The difference from an ordinary wetland garden is that the downspout empties into the bog or a wetland garden. This has numerous advantages to both the home and the community. For one, downspouts are normally directed to the municipal sewage system. This means that the rain water that flows from the roof will contribute the gallons of water that pass through the system. This may seem okay but in time, it may clog the drainage system and lead to flood. Keep in mind that every municipality has hundreds of homes with downspouts. This can be a great way to ease the flow by making the water flow directly to the garden. The flow of water can also cause erosion for places where the drainage is on marsh land. Some places have their drainage flows on the roadside. When these overflow, it can even disrupt the traffic. This is why these alternatives are great ways to help the community.

You home can also benefit from a downspout bog garden. Aside from having colourful lawns, you can even grow edible plants for your meals. When it is the dry season, you can transform the bog into a regular garden and water them yourself. Having a garden is also a great way to dispose Downspout of biodegradable materials like fruit peelings, etc. So what do you need? How do you start? Here are some steps and tips to start you downspout bog garden.

You must first outline your garden. Make sure that it is strategically located so that the water from the downspout will flow directly to the land. Dig out a meter deep. Make sure that it will not affect the foundation of your house. You can do this by making the slope of the plot slightly away from the side. Once you are happy with the size and depth, line the plot with plastic. Make sure that the plastic is hard and heavy so that the shape will be maintained. Next, poke some hole to the plastic to allow water to come through. Just make sure that you do not put too many holes because the bog is supposed to have poor drainage. You can line the hole with moss to make the conditions better. Redirect your spout to the hole. Attach an elbow if necessary. You can also avail of downspout extensions. You can now start planting in your downspout bog garden

Native plants would grow well in the bog. When buying seedlings or seeds, it is best to ask your botanist or supplier which would grow best. One great option is to ask for the plants that may be affected by developers. Instead of destroying them, your downspout bog garden can be their new home.