How RainEdge premium edging reduces risk of waterlogging

Typically filled with water-tolerant plants, rain gardens are utilised by landscape designers to manage stormwater runoff from pavements, roads and other hard surfaces.

This is especially crucial given big cities and urbanised areas typically feature a substantial number of these impervious surfaces, such as concrete, that would increase the risk of flooded streets without somewhere for the rainwater to go.

Rain gardens have the added benefit of helping cities and large urbanised areas to reduce the urban heat island effect – caused by asphalt, concrete and other heat-absorbing materials creating ‘urban canyons’ that reduce cooling vegetation, generate waste heat from human activities and trap heat.

However, while they’re designed to aid water runoff and prevent flooding in nearby environments, rain gardens too can become waterlogged if poorly designed or not utilising other products and materials, such as steel landscape edging.

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Structural challenges

As a result of repeated saturation, rain gardens can face worsened soil compaction and the eventual loss of the topsoil. This damages the structure of the rain garden, especially problematic for those on uneven, steep or sloped terrain, while significantly impacting drainage – heightening the risk of waterlogging and flooding.

Alongside this, the saturated soil and reduced oxygen can also cause plant roots to rot and drown. Consequently, this leads to wilted plants, yellowing leaves and eventually plant death.

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Pest proliferation and unpleasant smells

Waterlogged rain gardens, and the resultant standing water, can also become a breeding ground for mosquitos and other insects. These anaerobic conditions increase the likelihood of fungal attacks and root rot, weakening the plants and making them highly attractive to slugs and snails.

Alongside the potential for pest proliferation, the waterlogged and anaerobic soil will also typically produce a rotten egg or ‘swampy’ smell – turning what was once an aesthetically pleasing and welcoming environment to somewhere people will want to avoid.

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Nutrient leaching

While designed to filter runoff, overloaded rain gardens and the associated saturated soil can lead to oxygen deprivation and the washing away of essential nutrients. As a result, they can often become sources of nutrient pollution, with phosphorous and nitrogen leaching into surface water or groundwater.

The challenges posed by waterlogged rain gardens exacerbate the importance of utilising expertly-designed and implemented landscape edging, such as RainEdge – Kinley’s premium rain garden steel edging.

Featuring integrated slots along the edging, RainEdge enables water to flow from surrounding impervious surfaces, such as concrete pathways and roads, directly into the rain garden for efficient and reliable drainage.

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Comprehensive soil and mulch retention

With a rain garden’s primary purpose that of managing water runoff, they often feature a depression that’s filled with engineered mulch or soil. Incorporating landscape edging, such as RainEdge, into the design means this soil or mulch will be kept securely in place – preventing it from washing away during periods of heavy rain.

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Effective plant protection

By delineating clear borders and boundaries of the rain garden, steel landscape edging, such as RainEdge, is a hugely effective method of preventing grass and weeds from invading the designed area. As a result, the water-loving plants that were specifically chosen to thrive in the rain garden are kept protected from other invasive flora.

Erosion prevention

Utilising sturdy and well-designed landscape edging, such as RainEdge, means landscape designers and architects can provide comprehensive protection for rain garden soil. Consequently, this will be prevented from washing away and the structural integrity of the rain garden – especially on uneven, sloped or steep terrain – will be maintained.

Following a lengthy design process and the consultation of around 100 landscape architects who design rain gardens, RainEdge was created to provide a more reliable and efficient way of improving water flow in urbanised areas that feature impervious surfaces.

In addition to allowing for effective rainwater management, RainEdge supports plant growth and biodiversity, is fully recyclable and is flexible enough to be precisely installed around planters and other landscape features.

As a result, it is frequently specified and installed alongside rain gardens across the whole of the UK, providing these crucial areas with the effective and measured rainwater runoff they require to enhance urban environments, reduce the urban heat island effect and prevent waterlogging and flooding.

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