Beginner Gardening: Rain barrel upkeep, 1 by nutsaboutnature

nutsaboutnature wrote:
Hi rampbrat -
I just came across this thread. Most of the rain barrels I've seen around here have a screen in the top of the lid covering the opening. The screen is just window screen material that you can buy at any hardware or home improvement store.

The next two pics are of a new rain barrel we purchased from a local nature center & haven't put out yet, but there are also other ways of doing the screen. Many of the ones I've seen have a square wooden (or other material) frame screwed on with the screen underneath.

The cost of this one was pretty reasonable & they have them in use all around the nature center, but most likely my husband will make any future ones if we can get the barrels at a good price.

By-the-way, I don't know if you have a mosquito problem where you live, but the screen also keeps mosquitos from laying eggs in the water.