Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Rain barrels and compost bins
April Showers bring May flowers. At least that’s the hope and that moisture isn’t in the solid form of snow!
Rainwater is the best kind of water for your landscapes and gardens and capturing it is a good thing for several reasons.
First, it’s free! It’s also a good stormwater management practice. Corralling that precious water before it rushes down the storm drain and carries with it phosphorous that is a major contributor to unwanted algae growth in our lakes and ponds.
There are counties/municpalities throughout the country that offer rain barrels at a decent price along with a short informational class on how to use them properly. You’ll have to google it yourself as I couldn’t find an overall search for you.
Emptying them for the winter and storing them for one thing. Unfortunately last year, with the drought, mine went dry until late into October. It filled and then froze. It’s starting to thaw but the spigot has busted.
I got my first one through the city I live in which also held composting classes. There are numerous resources, check with your county extensions. Here’s a link to the University of Minnesota Extension for more information.
One note I’ll make is that the U does NOT recommend using the collected rain barrel water on your fruit or vegetable garden, saying there’s not enough research to say the water out of the barrel is safe.
A rain barrel can save most homeowners 1300 gallons of water in one season!
Another good idea are compost bins. They can be nearly any structure that can hold debris while allowing for air circulation, water and heat (as in some sunlight) to get to the pile.
