- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Rain barrels
Posted on 2/15/25 at 10:41 am
Posted on 2/15/25 at 10:41 am
Did a little searching with the crappy search feature, but didn’t see much for results. I’m considering a DIY rain barrel for a garden for the wife. Anyone want to share your rain barrel setups? Or experiences with them, good or bad?
This post was edited on 2/15/25 at 1:44 pm
6
Posted on 2/15/25 at 11:57 am to lsugrad35
depends on what you want to use the water for. If you want for irrigation raising the barrel helps with gravity flow, otherwise you’ll need a bilge pump. Also even a 55 gal barrel will fill up quick in a heavy rain, if you want bulk capacity then one of those 275 gal totes works really well. If you want drinking water put a filter screen at the intake and periodically add a capful or so of bleach. If you use the totes, paint them black to retard algae growth. Also with that kind of volume a harbor freight online water pump is what you want…3gpm should do fine
Posted on 2/15/25 at 12:49 pm to lsugrad35
I have a 250 gal soft sided tank sitting on a 30" tall platform I built using CMU. I use it for my veggie garden and other hand watering of pots, etc. 250 gal isn't much water and I usually run out of water in the summer when it never rains.
Posted on 2/15/25 at 9:53 pm to lsugrad35
You'll want to elevated it.
I had one on the ground that provided a little bit of water, and a very slow rate.
55 gallon filled up quickly.
I had one on the ground that provided a little bit of water, and a very slow rate.
55 gallon filled up quickly.
Posted on 2/16/25 at 11:57 am to lsugrad35
I have barrels on most of my downspouts and as previously stated 55 gallon fills up very quickly, so make sure to have a diverter to direct excess away from the house when the barrels are full
Posted on 2/16/25 at 1:50 pm to lsugrad35
Size and location of the garden?
I've seen ones online that attach to a gutter and collect water that way. Some barrels are made of old wooden barrels and have tiny plant gardens on the top. The water is 100% never used for anything other than for plants. You might want at least 2 barrels since 55 gallons will run out quickly with the summer dry spells coming.
I've seen ones online that attach to a gutter and collect water that way. Some barrels are made of old wooden barrels and have tiny plant gardens on the top. The water is 100% never used for anything other than for plants. You might want at least 2 barrels since 55 gallons will run out quickly with the summer dry spells coming.
Posted on 2/16/25 at 3:17 pm to lsugrad35
County did a program where you can get a barrel at a discount. Got one. When I redid my deck, I put tin on the underside, it flows to a gutter, that down into the barrel. So I'm catching a 16 by 10 area, it fills up quick. It's also downhill from there to the trees I water in the summer. I just wish I had gotten 3-4 barrels instead of 1, I barely make a dent watering 14 trees during drought times. I envisioned a buried soaker hose, or drip style sprayers, but not until I add barrels.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News