Garden

[SouthernBee]

Like everyone else trying to save some money. Family member has a small garden. Really appreciate information or suggestions from any one that has tried this.

[meem120]

We dont have a barrell, but my husband collects the rain water for our garden in diffrent size buckets.  Easier for him to manage and pick up.   We have a well and rain has been scarce.

[ChiliPepper]

@SouthernBee 

@meem120 

Funny you should mention this because I was JUST thinking about a rain barrel on my way to work.

I need to figure out though, how to NOT have it a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Definitely giving it more thought.

Do you have one or are you looking into it too?

[geezerette]

I used to just use a large plastic garbage can.  Placed it under the drip line at the back of the house where it got the most runoff.  (We didn't have eaves troughs or downspouts.)

Take the lid off when it was expected to rain, put the lid back on when it stopped raining.  That kept the bugs out.  Every once in a while I'd let the water get low and clean it out.

Not a fancy option nor good if you live where the temps go below freezing, but it was cheap and I only used it to water my outside plants.

[KingstonsMom]

Here in the southern states (GA), we don't do that.

We have a lot of mosquitoes which lead to heartworm disease, something that we pay for to prevent, and it's not cheap!

The treatment to our pets for heartworm is even worse....they can only treat it with arsenic, very hard on the pet and VERY expensive.

We remove any standing water immediately, even after a heavy rain.....

[Snowpuppy]

They are popular up here but our temps keep the mosquitos down.

That said, my township here in podunk passed a resolution about "diverting rainwater'. There is a $500 fine.

I've also read some areas in FL have outlawed them as well.

[RedTop]

@SouthernBee 

Growing up we always had rain barrels catching the runoff from our house roof, and the granary roof.  

Catching this water was essential to watering our garden and feeding our hogs, when the creek dried up.   Back in those days no one was concerned about the water being a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  Vet calls were essential for down cows and pigs, but farm people didn't have pets receiving care in the way we care for our cats, dogs, birds, etc. now.

Tractor Supply and Rural King have very nice closed rain barrels now to collect water, and you can add chemical treatment tabs to stop mosquitoes from hatching in the water.   

[SouthernBee]

---

@meem120 wrote:

We dont have a barrell, but my husband collects the rain water for our garden in diffrent size buckets.  Easier for him to manage and pick up.   We have a well and rain has been scarce.

---

@meem120 : Thank you. My concern was about using buckets or whatever and that could take a lot extra time and effort.

[SouthernBee]

---

@ChiliPepper wrote:

@SouthernBee 

@meem120 

Funny you should mention this because I was JUST thinking about a rain barrel on my way to work.

I need to figure out though, how to NOT have it a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Definitely giving it more thought.

Do you have one or are you looking into it too?

---

@ChiliPepper : My concern was the mosquitoes because they have a dog. I was trying to research this but thought someone could help. Just do extra research to help family member. Thank you.

[SouthernBee]

---

@geezerette wrote:

I used to just use a large plastic garbage can.  Placed it under the drip line at the back of the house where it got the most runoff.  (We didn't have eaves troughs or downspouts.)

Take the lid off when it was expected to rain, put the lid back on when it stopped raining.  That kept the bugs out.  Every once in a while I'd let the water get low and clean it out.

Not a fancy option nor good if you live where the temps go below freezing, but it was cheap and I only used it to water my outside plants.

---

@geezerette : Thank you. I was considering a garbage can but worried about bugs and using buckets to water the garden.