Rain Garden Installation Services in Renton

Hey there, Renton residents! Are you tired of stormwater flooding your yard or making a mess of your walkways? If you’re looking to manage that runoff while adding a beautiful feature to your landscape, you’ve come to the right place! A proper rain garden is more than just a pile of mulch—it’s a carefully designed solution that complements your property while preventing water woes.

Why You Need a Rain Garden

• Foundation Issues: Downspouts pouring water at your foundation can lead to puddles and even musty basements.
• Flooded Side Yards: Transform those mini rivers in your side yards into lush gardens that soak up rain.
• Erosion Control: Stop mulch from washing away and leaving silt on your sidewalks and stairs.
• Efficient Drainage: Avoid those “rain gardens” that hold water for days due to improper installation.

What We Build (Function Meets Beauty)

• Perfect Sizing: We determine your rain garden’s surface area to be 5–10% of your roof/patio area, tailored to your soil’s infiltration rate.
• Bioretention Soil Mix: A well-draining sandy blend topped with 2–3” of arbor mulch—no messy topsoil soup here!
• Durable Inlets: Downspout connections to a rock splash pad or pipe boot with clean, angular drain rock to prevent cratering.
• Reliable Overflow Solutions: Armored spillways leading to lawns or dispersion trenches that meet all code requirements.
• Underdrain for Slow Soils: Perforated pipes in gravel with cleanouts for those properties where soil doesn’t drain quickly.
• Native Planting: We select hardy PNW shrubs and perennials that thrive through our wet-to-dry climate shifts.
• Easy-to-Maintain Edges: Clean transitions to lawns, paths, or flower beds—no mysterious slopes to deal with.

Remember: If your soil infiltrates less than ½” per hour, we’ll plan for an underdrain or adjust our strategy accordingly. We believe in practical solutions!

Our Process (No Shortcuts Here)

1. Site Assessment & Elevations: We analyze grades, map water paths, and ensure the basin is 10’+ from foundations.
2. Infiltration Test: A quick percolation check determines your setup—whether it’s infiltrate-only or needs an underdrain.
3. Layout & Utilities: We call 811 to avoid major roots and utility lines—safety first!
4. Excavate the Basin: We create a flat bottom and gentle slopes, ensuring proper water flow with a rock-lined spillway.
5. Soil Installation: We place our bioretention mix and top it off with mulch—never any landscape fabric in the basin!
6. Piping: Solid pipe connections for downspouts, with perforated pipes placed inside the basin/underdrain, easily accessible for cleaning.
7. Planting: Plants are arranged for quick canopy establishment and effective weed suppression.
8. Proof Test: We perform a hose test on the inlet and overflow, documenting everything with photos before wrapping up.

Plant Palette That Thrives in Renton

For wetter basins: Slough sedge, Pacific ninebark, Douglas spirea, red-twig dogwood, Oregon iris, and rush species.

For banks and side slopes: Evergreen huckleberry, salal, sword fern, kinnikinnick, and vine maple.

For pollinator-friendly color: Douglas aster, native yarrow, and camas.

Want to minimize watering? We size, plant densely, and mulch—it’s a winning formula!

Sizing & Ordering (Let’s Get It Right)

• Rule of Thumb: Rain garden surface area should be 5–10% of the impervious area it serves.
• Quick Volume Check:
  • 1” of rain on 1,000 sq ft of roof equals ~623 gallons or ~83 cu ft (about 3.1 yd³).
  • A basin with a 6” ponding depth and 40% voids can handle that if sized correctly.
• Bioretention Mix: Plan for ~1–1.5 yd³ per 100 sq ft of basin, depending on depth.
• Rock Requirements: We typically need ¾”–1¼” clean rock for splash pads and underdrains; order 10–15% extra for settling.

Best Timing for Renton

• Fall to Early Spring: Ideal for installations, allowing roots to establish with the rain. We avoid major storm weeks for excavation.
• Summer Work: Summer installations are possible but expect extra watering during the first season.

Our Annual Maintenance Plan

• Inlet & Overflow Checks: We clear leaves and debris before the first big fall storm.
• Mulch & Weed Control: Maintaining a 2–3” depth of mulch while removing any invaders before they seed.
• Plant Establishment: We ensure deep watering in the summer of Year 1, tapering off as roots develop.
• Sediment Scoops: We remove silt from splash pads to keep infiltration rates high.

Our goal is to be your low-maintenance landscaping partner. Fewer problems between visits mean less work for you!

Service Cadences

• Quarterly: Fall storm prep, winter/spring checks, and summer tidy-ups.
• Bi-Monthly: Ideal for properties with heavy tree litter or steep contributing areas.

(New installs often start monthly for the first 60–90 days, then reduce frequency.)

What Annual Maintenance Includes

• Leaf and seed cleanup at inlets and spillways.
• Mulch top-ups and edge touch-ups for clean, crisp lines.
• Plant health assessments and recommendations for fill-ins.
• Underdrain and cleanout inspections with quick flushes as needed.
• A photo log to show you the performance and blooming progress.

Why Annual Maintenance Matters

• Keeps Water Soaking In: Open inlets and fresh mulch ensure high infiltration rates.
• Protects Your Home: Less splash and backflow means fewer issues at your foundation.
• Enhances Curb Appeal: A lush, dense cover leads to fewer weeds and bare patches.
• Saves You Money: Small maintenance tasks are much cheaper than major repairs or replacements.

How It Works

1. Free Estimate: We can provide an estimate via photos/videos or a quick walkthrough, with clear pricing—no surprises!
2. Design Plan: We’ll work out sizing, soil specs, and plant selection based on your site and local regulations.
3. Build Day(s): We handle everything from excavation, piping, soil placement, rock installation, planting, to final tests and clean finishes.
4. Follow-Up: We provide simple care tips and a tailored maintenance schedule that fits your needs.

Why Renton Chooses Neat & Tidy

• We’re a local team that understands clay soils, winter rains, and the unique challenges of Renton.
• We are licensed and insured; we call 811 and adhere strictly to local discharge regulations.
• Our pricing is transparent—materials, labor, hauling, and disposal are all included.
• We pride ourselves on being punctual and respectful, keeping our work areas clean.
• Our green-first approach emphasizes native plants, infiltration-focused designs, and minimal waste.

Ready to turn stormwater into a stunning landscape feature?

Call or text Neat & Tidy today! We’ll create a rain garden that’s perfectly sized, drains effectively, and enhances your property’s beauty all year long—so you can enjoy your outdoor space without the hassle. Let us keep it tidy—while you sit back and relax!