HOW TO HARVEST RAINWATER FOR YOUR GARDEN
Wet weather doesn’t have to mean hanging up your trowel and saying goodbye to gardening - take advantage of rainy days and start
harvesting rainwater to use in your garden
Summer showers may put us off from going outside, but excessive rainfall can provide many future benefits for our plants and gardens. Water from our taps is a limited, valuable resource, which is easy to take for granted! Collecting and storing rainwater is much more economical and environmentally,
and is much better for your plants’ health
Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater, which is then stored with the purpose of reusing it on your plants
and garden the next time it’s due to be watered, reducing the need to use water from taps. This is a particularly effective way to prepare for hot months, where water levels are affected during heatwaves
In our guide, we’ll explain why you should harvest rainwater, the most efficient way of gathering rainwater for use in your garden
and all the benefits it brings to your plants
WHY HARVEST RAINWATER?
Collecting rainwater is good for our environment and is better for plants than tap water
Plants need water all year-round, but they'll need even more water than usual during hot, dry summer spells. During warm weather, water is in high demand. Water resources in the UK are already under pressure from climate change and population growth – the average water usage of a UK household in 2022 was 146 litres per day! Therefore, it’s important to be conscious of our water usage wherever we can. One of these ways is by using harvested rainwater when you water your plants, instead of tap water
Rainwater is better for your plants because it has more balanced pH levels, is free from chemicals, salts and minerals found in tap water like chlorine and fluoride, and is higher in nutrients which are good for a plants’ health, such as nitrogen
Harvesting rainwater is easy with a water butt or large watering can. The easiest way you can harvest rainwater is by leaving your watering can outside during rainy days. However, the best way to collect and store large quantities of water for regular use is by installing a water butt into your garden
WHAT IS A WATER BUTT?
A water butt is a large plastic container used to harvest and store large quantities of rainwater. It’s usually connected to a downpipe on the outside of your house. When it rains, any water collected in your drainpipe flows down into the water butt, capturing and collecting rainwater with ease. It’s a must-have accessory for any gardeners who have many plants to care for in their garden, or for anyone who is looking to become a little more economical, save water, and improve their home’s water efficiency. It’s also an excellent way of preventing excessive rainfall from flooding your garden
Water butts come in diverse sizes, so they can suit every garden style. They only take around 1 rainy weekend to fill up, and afterwards you can use them as a source for filling up your watering can, or even to power your hose if you have a hose connector
Make sure to clean your water butt every few months to prevent the water from becoming smelly or diseased, and keep your guttering clear from debris like moss and grass that might make the collected water dirty
TOP TIP: For short periods of rainfall, try sitting a bucket, hole-free container, or watering can outside for a quick water harvest
HOW TO INSTALL A WATER BUTT
To install a water butt into your garden, you’ll need some simple tools such as a hacksaw, drill and tape measurer. Each water butt will come with the proper fittings and instructions, but to help you out, here’s the basic steps you’ll need to follow to install a water butt into your garden:
Choose a downpipe on the outside of your home and a space around 50cm away from it where your water butt can go. Make sure you choose a flat, even surface, and if you can, a shaded area
Cut the downpipe about 3cm below the top of the water butt
Attach the rainwater diverter fitting that came with your water butt to the downpipe
Drill a hole 8cm down from the top of the water butt and attach the water butt connecter by pushing it through the hole
Attach the water butt connector to the rainwater diverter. Pop the lid on the water butt and you’re ready to start harvesting water!
TOP TIP: You can also use collected rainwater for topping up ponds or washing your car