I need new gutters but seems silly to direct water onto the pavement instead of the flower beds. What have you done to direct rain water? What precautions are needed so I don't damage the house.
Rain Gutter????
Many DGrs have used rain barrels to catch the rainwater. It can then be diverted to the beds that you want watered with a hose and a small pump or via bucket.
That would prevent excessive water accumulating near your foundation or in a heavy rain, possibly erroding the soil where the gutters have been diverted.
Just a couple thoughts, I am sure there will be more....
This is the perfect time to construct a rain collecting barrel. Here is a good link from Minnesota that details the assembly. http://home.comcast.net/~leavesdance/rainbarrels/construction.html
I have 'Rain Drains' on my gutters. They bring the rain out, away fr my foundation. They are long enough that I could direct the water to beds I need watering.
B4 I got them, the water dug 'trenches' where I didn't want them.
I do plan on having some rain barrels set up eventually but not as of yet!
:~)
Thanks for the rain barrel info.
Smockette, what are raindrains...do they have holes in them?
I went to a great seminar on this last month in McKinney. http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/
Texas is trying to encourage rainwater use. For gardeners to benefits are great. Rainwater lacks salts and chlorine and is p.H. neutral
Siggy
That sounds wonderful. I will try and find one closer to me.
I'm planning to put in a rain barrel or two. Now if we just get the rain to keep them filled!
Pbtxlady ~ you will be amazed at how little rain will deliver how much in a rain barrel. I keep two and when we have a good rain I wish I had more...
Yep 1 inch of rain on a 1000sq foot roof=625 gallons of water run off from the roof.
Banana, the rain drains attach to my down spout of my gutters & they have small (pencil diameter) holes in the last 6-8" of it. I can bring them out 8-10 feet fr the house.
http://www.homeandbeyond.com/prod-0010890.html
I couldn't afford a rain barrel, but did buy two 35-gallon trash barrels from Lowes earlier this spring. They sit under my backyard eaves. When it rains, I take the top off the barrels and let the flow from the eaves drain into the barrels. I also put out buckets along the eaves and add those to the barrels. With all the rain we've had this year, it's been easy to keep them filled.
I like that so many cities are recommending rain barrels and offering seminars in rain and water conservation.
Carla
I'll second that ~ I like the thoughts of water conservation... My barrels were gimmes. If you want to keep trash out or mosquitos from breeding, you can pick up a roll of cheap fiberglass screening and use it to cover the tops by securing it in place. For mosquito prevention I have used mosquito dunks also. Not supposed to hurt should a pet drink it.
Thanks for all the info. I will be working on this during the winter.
Bananna ~ please keep us posted on your progress...
We just installed a rain barrel in our drought stricken area of NC. If you want to see photos of the steps in doing this you can go to my blog at www.kirbyplant.blogspot.com It hasn't really rained much here but we're expecting some this week as tropical storm Faye moves out to sea. Our is one that is placed under our drain pipe. It is made of a recycled barrel and has two spigots, one for the hose and one for overflow. It is closed at the top except for the hole where the drain pipe is attached. Enough words, go to the blog to see more.
Where do you find the 55 gal plastic barrels? I recently received a gift of 3 barrels which I connected in a series, this is working great. I would like to create another series of 3 - 4 barrels, but can't find barrels. Any suggestions on finding barrels?
Try good suppliers. We used to get used pickle barrels in Brooklyn where they make LOTS of pickles. Other sources might be industrial but you have to be sure no toxic liquids were used. There are many suppliers of barrels out their on the internet but most are expensive. Much better to use a recycled one for obvious reasons.
Good luck. Photos; barrel after it was hooked up to the drain which was retrofitted for the height of the barrel.
I finally bought mine from Lucy and George Harrell in Arlington Tx. They are very well made. They have a mesh at the top to prevent mosquitoes.
www.organicgardeningtx.com/page5.html -
I can't remember where I got them, but I have three 50 gallon "jars" they imported olives in. You do need food grade. When I had the gutters installed I had the guy cut them off short and put the little curved part about 4 feet off the ground, and I slip a section of hardware cloth over the top to keep lizards out. (I hate finding lizard corpses in my water.)