Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Nigel Dunnett (Author), Andy Clayden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2007

Rain gardens encompass all possible elements that can be used to capture, channel, divert and make the most of the rain and snow that fall on a property. Using the innovative and attractive approaches described here, it is possible to enhance outdoor spaces and minimize the damaging effects of drought, stormwater runoff, and other environmental challenges. Nigel Dunnett & Andy Clayden have created a comprehensive guide to water management techniques for the garden and built environment. Filled with practical, manageable solutions for small and large-scale implementations and utilizing authoritative research with state-of-the-art case studies from all over the world, Rain Gardens is the first book on sustainable water management schemes suitable for students and professionals.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The demand for water is growing exponentially as supplies dwindle, so it becomes ever more critical for home gardeners, professional landscapers, construction engineers, and city planners to consider rainfall and snowfall management. Structures as small as a garden shed and hard surfaces as massive as an arena parking lot each have an environmental effect through the loss of water as uncontained runoff. Rain gardening emphasizes the capture and reuse of water within residential and commercial landscapes by using such techniques as bioretention ponds, storm-water chains, green roofs, and permeable paving. In this unique and essential resource, Dunnett and Clayden expertly and comprehensively explain the various methods of creating rain-gardening systems in clear, precise, and enthusiastic language; augment their proposals with simple line drawings and color photographs; provide a concise directory of suitable plants; and draw on inspiring case histories of successful rain-garden projects throughout the U.S and Europe. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Here you can learn how to capture rain and snowmelt runoff, how to disconnect your downspouts, create a green roof, bioretention ponds, storm-water chains and permeable paving.”

(Oregonian )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 188 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (April 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881928267
• ISBN-13: 978-0881928266
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps not what you are expecting ..., December 27, 2007

By 

IronBelly (Walcott, Iowa) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape (Hardcover)

Let me first state that this is an excellent book. However, it is really a book about taking things to the next level. If you are looking for solid how-to information about installing a rain garden in your back yard, you might be disappointed.

Landscape architects, designers and accomplished amateurs with advanced skill sets looking to handle water both innovatively and creatively will delight in this book. I did ... but then I already have three rain gardens in my own landscape and teach how-to classes on installing them. If the concept of rain gardens intrigues you and you are looking for the basics on a DIY level, the free, downloadable rain garden manual from the University of Wisconsin is still the best source of that information, as of January 2008.

This book has a decidedly European flavor to it. And why shouldn't it? It is written by a couple of Brits. Although I am hard-pressed to see how some of the models given in the book will pass muster with the Americans with Disabilities Act, codes and other regulatory bodies, they should indeed stimulate the mind. The examples (of which there are many) also include public and even larger municipal installations. I find this a good thing for Americans to be exposed to. The Europeans are far ahead of us in green thinking. Included are some examples of essentially, municipal civil engineering projects both implemented and functioning with panache.

This is a book that I value having in my personal library. Someone looking for basic information may not.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not proper title name, February 22, 2008

By 

E. Dick (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape (Hardcover)

This book only covers about 16 pages of rain gardens out of ~175 pages. A more appropriate title should be its subtitle, not rain gardens. If you're looking for rain garden info, this is not the book. It is a good reference for other sustainable water practices - standing water retention, swimming ponds, green roofs, etc.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars rain gardens review, December 28, 2007

By 

S. Anderson "Landscape Architect" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape (Hardcover)

A thorough treatment of all possible ways of dealing with storm water run-off, not just rain gardens. No detailed instructions on "how-to" which I had expected.