Save Water and Money with Rain Barrels

Save money and be kind to your garden and the environment by capturing rainwater and putting it to work in your landscape.

You can make your own rain barrel or purchase one.  Either way there are a few features that should be included.

Make sure the top is covered and secure to keep out debris, mosquitoes and children.  Some come equipped with a solid lid with an opening just big enough to accommodate the downspout.  Others use a screen to keep out debris while letting in the rain.

The spigot for accessing the water should be located at the base of the barrel.  The lower the spigot, the less water that can collect and stagnate over summer.  Use the spigot to fill watering cans or attach a hose for watering.  An overflow outlet, located at the top of the barrel, is necessary for periods of heavy rain and for interlocking several barrels. 

A downspout diverter is another way to manage rain barrel overflows.

The choices are many, making it easy for you to conserve water and grow a beautiful landscape. 

A bit more information:  Take advantage of gravity and let nature do the watering for you.  Run a soaker hose through your garden.  This “leaky” hose will slowly drip water right on the soil surface. Attach it to a garden hose that’s attached to your rain barrel.  When needed, simply open the spigot and let gravity move the water from your rain barrel to the plants in your garden. Check to make sure the water reaches all the plants in the bed.

Tags

sustainable-gardening watering rain-barrel

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