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Hello friends! We’ve all heard the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.” Because it’s April and it’s gearing up to be a rainy week, I thought I would share some information on how you can harvest these “showers” by using a rain barrel, so that you can grow beautiful May flowers of your own!
Firstly, you may be wondering what exactly a rain barrel is. Rain barrels can really be anything—a bucket, a can, maybe even a shoe if you want to get creative (although I would not recommend this if you want a lot of water)—that can collect rain, which you can then use to water your garden.
The most effective types of rain barrels tend to have a spigot near the base that helps to easily release the water you collect.
Rain barrels are great because they help conserve and recycle water from the sky, which is especially important during hot summer months or in the desert where water is scarce. The average roof collects 600 gallons of water for every inch of rain, so your rain barrel will be extremely effective and helpful.
It’s no secret that many parts of the United States have experienced water scarcity. There’s a really interesting report put out by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) that goes more in depth into the water crisis our nation is facing for those interested, because I don’t have time to go over everything here. It is evident that solutions such as rain barrels will become increasingly important as the demand for water increases.
Rain barrels also help limit runoff on your property. By soaking up the rain in one concentrated spot, you avoid having it run down your lawn, which can cause erosion and transfer dangerous pesticides to local waterways.
If you’re still not convinced, rain barrels are also amazing because they can save you a lot of money in water expenses. The average family spends over 1,000 dollars a year on water according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Watering your lawn adds up so any way that you can minimize this expense is a good thing in my book.
You can even use this water for other things like washing your car, cleaning outdoor surfaces or to fill landscape fountains or ponds.
Please keep in mind that rain barrels should NOT be used to collect drinking water. When rain runs off your roof, it can collect a lot of bacteria and muck. Although it is safe to water plants, drinking it is not recommended. Keep this in mind if you choose to use the collected rain to water edible plants since it may leave behind a residue.
Now that you’ve learned all about rain barrels, I’m sure that you are eager to acquire your own. Luckily, rain barrels are in high abundance at many local hardware or lawn stores and it is also extremely easy to make your own.
To make your own, follow this guide. The only things you will need are a large barrel, around 50-gallons, a spigot, screening, a hose and hose adapter, some washers and nuts, and bricks to keep your barrel elevated. You will also need basic tools, like a power drill and wrench.
If this sounds like too much work, you can also buy one. Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply Co all carry rain barrels for under 100 dollars. Of course, making your own will be much cheaper.
If you really want to have fun with it, try customizing your barrel to make it pretty. The Cincinnati Zoo did a cool project painting rain barrels with animals, so you could do something similar. Some barrels, including my own, come with a planter on top to grow shallow-rooted flowers. This will help beautify your space!
I hope that you have so much fun installing a rain barrel of your own and growing your very own May flowers from April showers!
Elena