Micro Orchard & Rain Garden in Beaverdale

These Beaverdale homeowners are passionate about being good Stewards of the Earth.  They were already using solar panels to produce electricity, had a vegetable garden and flowers.

Before

In addition to that, they really wanted to do something more with their home space; potentially turning the yard into a more natural and environmentally friendly, food producing landscape.  We mentioned this project on the blog earlier this year!

Downspout collection and basin plan

We shared about the city's stormwater rebate program, and they immediately wanted to do something about their runoff.  Besides the function, a rain garden would provide pollinator habitat and curb appeal.

Mid construction progress pics often look bad

We planned a mini orchard mixed into and nearby the native area that would also benefit from the pollinators and other beneficial insects attracted to the rain garden.  Native paw paw trees, gooseberry and serviceberry shrubs would be included in the stormwater element.  Planted close by were a pair of dwarf apple trees as they were under some utility lines.  Dwarf apples are generally more precocious but need staking for the life of the tree.

In addition to the beneficial native plants in the rain garden, we included many multifunctional plants in the orchard understory.  Permaculture design principles use plants to fill the many growing layers and niches that unwanted weeds will have to fight making management easier. 

Other companion plants in the orchard guild will help prevent disease, cycle nutrients and provide additional yields.  Each role is filled by multiple plants, and each plant serves multiple roles.  The understory includes strawberries, clover, chives, sage, thyme and more. 

"The crew came out and put in the rain garden and orchard, it's so beautiful!  Total win/win/win for the City of Des Moines in helping keep (at least our) runoff out of the sewers, in providing food for us and our furry/non-furry neighbors, and for our pollinators who have already started their amazing work!"