What can I plant on swale?
Start Planting! Perennials are the best choice. Fruit bearing trees are a great option as their foliage will shade the swale and slow down evaporation, as well as provide mulch and organic matter for it.
Can you plant trees in swales?
Any trees planted on the swale will work in concert with the earthworks to open up the soil for more water and make the land drought proof – eventually no irrigation will be required.
Who owns the swale?
Although swales are public property—they are typically owned by the County or perhaps the municipality you live in—by law, property owners are supposed to maintain the swales in front of their properties.
What is a swale in a yard?
Swales follow the contours around the base of a natural or created slope, redirecting storm water and filtering runoff as it sinks into the soil, instead of keeping it in one place, like a rain garden. Plants suck up the water along a swale’s gently sloping banks and sometimes down the center of the channel.
Is it legal to park on the street in Florida?
If there is a curb, pull close to it — you must not park more than one foot away. Always park on the right side of the roadway, unless it is a one-way street. Make sure your vehicle cannot move. Florida law requires that you take the keys out of your vehicle before leaving it.
How do you prevent erosion in a swale?
› Evenly distribute water flow into the swale to limit erosion from heavy rainfall. Strategically placed rocks may help with this. Alternatively a flow spreader can be attached to the end of the downpipe. › Inspect your swale regularly – replace plants and repair erosion when necessary.
What is a dry swale?
Dry swales, sometimes called grass swales, are similar to bioretention cells but are configured as shallow, linear channels. Dry swales function primarily as a conveyance BMP, but provide treatment of stormwater runoff, particularly when used in tandem with check dams that temporarily retain water in a series of cells.
What is the minimum slope for a swale?
1 percent
The minimum slope for grassy swales and drainage ways is 1 percent to prevent standing water and muddy conditions. Slopes for walkways will not exceed 5 percent, unless unavoidable. Slopes greater than 5 percent may make the construction of special ramps for the disabled necessary. The maximum cross-slope is 2 percent.