Starting with a bare lot? That’s what I did back in 2004. If I had to do it over
again, I would have followed a bit of water harvesting advice that I heard
several years later:
Plant the water first.
What does this mean? It means that you refrain from planting anything
until after you’ve created your earthworks – the swales, basins, and berms. I
also recommend the addition of rain gutters and downspouts to remove the
water from your roof and direct it away from your home’s foundation.
What goes where? Here’s what I recommend:
- Start your drainage swales right below the downspout openings.
Extend them as far as the entrance to your… - Rainwater harvesting basins. Locate these at least 10 feet away from
your home’s foundation. - If your lot slopes toward the street – and many of them do – build
berms on the downhill sides of your basins. This will keep the
rainwater on your property and out of the street.