Save Money and Promote Healthy Plants with a Water Butt for Your Garden

Water butts are large containers designed for collecting and storing rainwater that can be used for watering plants and other outdoor uses.Especially with our temperate climate with frequent rainfall, making water butts an effective way to collect and store rainwater for use in the garden.

Using a water butt can have a number of benefits, including reducing the demand for mains water, saving money on water bills, and promoting healthier plant growth. In addition, using a water butt can help to reduce surface runoff and erosion, and is generally better for the environment than using treated tap water.

It’s also worth noting that water butts are easy to install and can be connected to most types of downpipes using a simple diverter kit.
To avoid overflow during rainy days you can use special overflow kit– all excess water will end up directly in soil.

Despite of many benefits, some people are afraid to use a water butt. They cite the main reasons (and I will try to tell you why they are consider to be myths :)):

1. 1. Contamination: Some people are concerned that the rainwater collected in a water butt may be contaminated with various substances, such as car exhaust fumes, air pollutants, bird droppings, etc. In reality, if the water butt is properly installed and kept clean, it is unlikely that the rainwater collected in it will be significantly contaminated. We have available great and easy to use cleaners in the market, such as Gardening Naturally Natural Water Butt Treatment which make your water clean of any algae by blocking UV rays and make any debris cluster together and sink down or Water Butt FreshaTank Microbial Disc which provides beneficial microbiome in the water (and let them to their dream job😀).
   2. Diseases: Some people are afraid that the water collected in a water butt may contain bacteria or viruses that can cause diseases. In reality, rainwater is usually safe to use as long as it is stored in a clean water butt and use properly: as saving bills, chloral free water for your garden.

1. Unsightly appearance: Some people think that water butts are unsightly and spoil the look of their garden, BUT nowadays you can choose various of different types and styles to match your personal preference. From water butts pretending to be piece of wood, through all kind of flower pots which collect water on the bottom (in this option soil and plant roots works also like mechanical filtr), stone-like or brick-wall like, ornamental terracotta colour vases to classic looking barrels you probably remember from grandparents garden.
   
2. Mosquitoes: it can be an issue, but it is easy to fix:
   

• Cover the water surface with a fine mesh or mosquito netting to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the standing water.
• Keep the lid of your water butt tightly closed to prevent mosquitoes from getting in and laying their eggs.
• Use mosquito dunks, which are small tablets that contain a bacteria toxic to mosquito larvae, to kill any larvae that may be present.
• Add fish such as mosquito fish or goldfish to your water butt. These fish can eat the mosquito larvae and help keep the population under control. Additionally, if you’re feeling creative and want to make use of your DIY skills, you could even consider creating a mini pond with a barrel! By adding plants and rocks, you can create a beautiful feature in your garden while also helping to attract wildlife and keep mosquitoes at bay. So, release your inner creative soul and explore the possibilities!

What about a water hose?

You can use a hose with a water butt, but you will need to use a special kit to connect the hose to the water butt. This kit usually includes a tap that attaches to the water butt, along with a hose connector that fits onto the tap.

When using a hose with a water butt, it’s important to keep in mind that the pressure of the water may be lower than what you are used to with mains water. This is because the water is gravity-fed from the water butt, rather than being pumped through the hose.

Tip: To maximize the amount of water you can use from your water butt, it’s also a good idea to position it as high up as possible. This will increase the pressure and flow rate of the water. You can also elevate the water butt by placing it on a stand or platform.

The type of water butt that you choose will depend on your budget, the size of your garden, and your personal preferences. It’s a good idea to shop around and compare different options before making a decision. Overall, the pros of using water butts in the garden generally outweigh the cons, especially if you are looking to reduce your environmental impact and save money on your water bills.