Bookmark us Subscribe Already a member? -> Sign in

Home | Register | Forums | Blogs | Calendar | Plants       

Tulips..
in Member's Gallery
last post: Sjoerd

My blooms so far this year....
in Member's Gallery
last post: Tina

My pics on mothers day
in Member's Gallery
last post: kuntrygal

For all the moms on Mothers Day
in Member's Gallery
last post: Netty

Can someone tell me what kind of bush this is?
in Plant ID
last post: eileen

Home > Forums > Garden Design > > Current Topic: Rain barrels

Rain barrels


Back Surgery
EileenT's blog
The hedge monster
Droopy's blog
Successes and Challenges in Seed Starting Spring 08
Lovemygarden's blog
Red Garden
Lovemygarden's blog
Lofotr - King of the Nordic Sea
Biita's blog
new seeds advice
bluenose5's blog





shawncal
Just Arrived
Just Arrived

Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Northern Minnesota

Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:50 pm   Post subject: Rain barrels


greetings,

We are designing a rainwater collection system for our new house, consisting of several barrels connected in tandem. I am looking for info/advice on larger systems like this (most of the info i've found on the internet is for single rainbarrels). I would like to gravity feed the water to raised bed gardens and install drip systems or soaker hoses, if possible. Anybody doing this?

Also, I have read that you should not use white rain barrels, due to algae growth. I assume this is from light entering the barrel...I have a source for white barrels, so am wondering if I can just paint them a dark color to solve the problem??

Any tips appreciated,
Shawn

Back to top
Profile | PM
Question about Garden Design? Register for free to ask in our forums.

wacomac
Just Arrived
Just Arrived

Joined: 26 Apr 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Weatherford, TX (Map)

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:15 am   Post subject:


Shawn, I have been pondering with the same thoughts. I have been reading http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/ and some on gardenweb.com As for as white... I think you might be smart to get some returned paint from Home Depot (usually less than $5. a gallon)and put a dark color on your white barrels. Good luck on this project. Let me know how it comes out.

Back to top
Profile | PM

Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Showing Great Promise

Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 405
Location: Catskill Mountains NY

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:37 pm   Post subject:


wacomac wrote:
As for as white... I think you might be smart to get some returned paint from Home Depot (usually less than $5. a gallon)and put a dark color on your white barrels.

Why is that??

My friend lives in Colorado and it is illegal for her to have a rainwater barrel. CO says the rain is state property.

Back to top
Profile | PM

Primsong
Flower of the Shire

Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Posts: 1755
Location: Oregon (Map)

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:45 pm   Post subject:


Rain is state property? What the heck?

Sounds like some old water-rights law needs a rewrite.

We've been considering them as well - I hadn't thought about the light entering the barrel that way, though the ones we were looking at are already dark green so maybe it's a moot point - but it's good to consider all aspects. I remember seeing a good handyman's guide to building a series of barrels with a tap, try googling for them with something like "gardener's spouse" - I think that's what he called himself.

Back to top
Profile | PM | Website

toni
Mistress of Garden Junque


Moderator

Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Posts: 4172
Location: North Texas (Map)

Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:53 pm   Post subject:


As long as the barrel is not transparent it is okay. If the barrel is painted white that would be okay.
Transparent is where you have troubles with algae


Wrennie wrote:
wacomac wrote:
As for as white... I think you might be smart to get some returned paint from Home Depot (usually less than $5. a gallon)and put a dark color on your white barrels.

Why is that??


Wrennie,
Any special order paint that either the customer ends up not liking afterall or the employee messes up when making it, can't be sold for full retail so it goes for really cheap.


_________________
"Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
Algernon Swinburne (1837-1909)

"A little Madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Back to top
Profile | PM | Blog | My Latest Blog Entry:New plans for the front yard



You're looking at one of the many forums on GardenStew.com.
Register for free to join in the discussion.


Home > Forums > Garden Design > Current Topic: Rain barrels



back to top of page




Forum powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group


     Sponsored Links