Knowledgebase
Waterworks/Wetland #866947
Asked May 03, 2024, 5:17 PM EDT
Huron County Ohio
Expert Response
Greetings, Megan, and thank you for your excellent question to AskExtension/Ask a Master Gardener. I think I can point you in the right direction so you can develop a solution to your soggy backyard. It is admirable that you are looking to improve not only your property but also to conserve and improve the health of your creek. It is an ambitious, but achievable goal.
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In answer to your question: It sounds like a large part of your yard is a wetland, and your narrative leads me to believe that you understand the ecological value of such. I see you live in Huron County, Ohio. Your first step should be to contact Huron County Soil and Water Conservation District. They can provide you with friendly guidance, and paperwork/permits if needed. Discussing your plan with them will help ensure that your actions are helpful and not harmful to the wetland and watershed near your home. Their advice may include some of the following solutions.
Swales or Drainage Ditches Depending on the pitch of your property in relation to the creek, you might choose to create a natural pathway for your property to drain into the creek. This is, of course, if your intent is to drain the land rather than leave it a wetland. This would be an excellent topic for discussion with the above-named Conservation District representative.
Rain Gardens A rain is “a type of garden strategically located so that it can intercept storm water and allow it to soak into the soil.” (Penn State Extension). Your “rain garden” might be different from those commonly described, which are most often structured with a berm surround, but the principles would apply. I imagine yours as having a berm toward the highest end of your property and sloping toward the creek. (Of course I have never seen the property, so my imaginings could be way off.) You would amend the soil with compost and then plant this area with native trees and plants that are tolerant to both wet and drier conditions. The improved soil and additional plants will absorb and utilize the rain and runoff, allowing time for the water to pass into the water table below. I’ve included numerous resources below that give specifics about rain gardens and native Ohio plants for wetlands. (One important note: one article included a recommendation to use sand in your soil amendment. If your soil contains clay, adding sand is not recommended, as sand plus clay creates a hard-pack akin to concrete that is not favorable to water absorption. See here. The Conservation District should be able to advise you as the soil content in your area.)
It will take planning, effort and patience, but over time you should be able to transform your “boggy” creek bed into the beautiful permaculture of your dreams, filled with native Ohio wildflowers, grasses and trees. You already have a natural drainage site (the creek) and most importantly you have the desire to work with the ecology at hand to improve the environmental health of both your property and the creek.
I wish you the best of luck and invite you to write back any time.
Resources about Raingardens, native Ohio wetland plants and more
General Information
EPA: What You Can Do to Soak Up the Rain https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/what-you-can-do-soak-rain
Huron County Ohio Soil and Water Conservation District http://www.huronswcd.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/HuronSWCD/
Franklin County Ohio - Gardening for Clean Water https://www.franklinswcd.org/gardening-for-clean-water
NH’s Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management https://www4.des.state.nh.us/SoakNH/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NH-Homeowner-Guide-2016.pdf
Rain Gardens
University of Illinois – Rain Gardens: Designs, Plant Lists and Suppliers https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=347854&p=2345331
University of NG – How Do I Build a Rain Garden (Video) https://extension.unh.edu/resource/how-do-i-build-rain-garden-video
Native Ohio Plants and Ohio Wetland Plants
Ohio Native Plant List https://www.ohionativeplantmonth.org/native-plant-list
Ohio State Extension – Native Shrubs https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5813 Native Plants https://plantpath.osu.edu/nativeplants
Ohio Wetland Species https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/natural-areas/factsheets/Wetlands.pdf
Ohio Floodplain Species https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/natural-areas/factsheets/Floodplains.pdf
Adding Sand to Clay Soil
University of Illinois – Does Sand Improve Soil Drainage? https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2018-01-31-does-sand-improve-clay-soil-drainage