• Using plants that require low amounts of supplemental water, once they are mature, allows landscapes to thrive on less water. The Garden on Eden uses less than 25,000 gallons of irrigation per year – compared to 110,000 gallons for traditional grass and shrubs. This saves more than 85,000 gallons of water per year -- enough to support a family of four for 9 months!
• Most plant problems are caused by poor irrigation practices. The highly efficient drip irrigation on this landscape will help plants not only survive, but thrive.

Keep Rain and Irrigation Water in the Garden, Not the Storm Drains

• The rain garden in The Garden on Eden captures rain water to enrich the soil and water the plants. Plants for the rain garden were carefully selected, choosing those that could handle periods of heavy rain and periods of dry conditions. Rocks are positioned where the water flows from the downspout to the landscape to help spread and slow the flow of water. The soil and plants help filter it as it soaks into the ground. For more information about determining the size of the rain garden, where to position it in the landscape, design and installation, and selecting appropriate plants, visit River-Friendly Rain Gardens. To learn about rain garden maintenance, visit the University of Connecticut’s website.
• Shallow swales, similar to terracing, were sculpted throughout the landscape to slow the flow of water and let it soak into the soil.
• One-quarter of the roof’s surface at The Garden on Eden drains water to the downspout near the rain garden, capturing over 450 gallons of water from just one inch of rain!
• Keeping water in the landscape helps to prevent pollutants from entering the storm drains. The soil helps to filter and cleanse the water.

• This landscape is irrigated by a system of tubing with built-in emitters, protected by a topping of organic mulch. In operation, water is delivered slowly to a plants’ root zone. This prevents water from being wasted through evaporation and run-off into storm drains.
• Sprinklers typically lose over 25% of their water to evaporation, or to watering unplanted areas. Drip irrigation is 95% efficient, so almost every drop is used by plants.