Regarding algae and nutrient build-up in the water butt - Alys Fowler recommended sticking willow branches or twigs in the water butt - they'll extract the nutrients. I haven't had a need for it yet, but I like the idea.
Try thinking about an IBC tank, they hold 1 cubic mtr of water or 1000ltrs and you can get them on eBay for upwards of £25ea. OK you may have to think about getting them delivered or collecting it / them yourself. Be careful too to make sure they are either professionally cleaned or you have the ways to clean them depending on what it was originally used for.
You can stack them and plumb them up easily too with a little extra pipework and you can be as simple or as complex as you like.
I have 7 water butts (of varying sizes) in my garden,
This summer i used 5000 ltrs (that's about 60 bath fulls) less water than last years summer (I'm on a water meter) so its saved me about a fiver a month on water rates, not much but better in my pocket than the water companies.
I have 2 linked Butts at home & two on the allotment. At home I tend to keep the rainwater for the ericaceous and house plants. In a dry summer it is not enough. To keep clean, keep covered and a little Citrox greenhouse disinfectant. (based on citrus extract does not harm plants).
I've got one collecting water from the greenhouse but that's all. It's not possible to collect the rainwater from our roof because we have only one downpipe and that runs to a gulley at the side of our driveway. Put a butt there and we won't be able to get the cars on the drive.
I use a IBC tank it holds 1100 L had it three years now and not run it dry, but then I've not had to water often! a "full water of my veg garden takes 200L ish, so unless it decides not to rain for 3-4 weeks HA!
The tanks are not pretty and you need to make a good footing for them, mine sits on railway sleepers in the summer and I bring it in in the winter, no need for it to take the pounding from the elements when there is no chance I will need it for 5 months.
They also have a big sized hole to get the water back out, no waiting around here, I have it fitted with a standard tap and a hose on that, fills a 11ltr bucket in 30 seconds or so, or more importantly gives me enough pressure just from gravity to use the hose directly on it.
It most certainly saves me money, especially when we have ducklings who need fresh swimming water every day! I plan to pick up a pair more, as I can see that if we do get a few weeks without rain but with ducklings one will not do.
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The only tip I can offer is to keep the butt securely covered at all times.
Regarding algae and nutrient build-up in the water butt - Alys Fowler recommended sticking willow branches or twigs in the water butt - they'll extract the nutrients. I haven't had a need for it yet, but I like the idea.
Last edited: 14 December 2017 17:40:41
I have 2 x 250l water butts standing side by side on " the allotment" They're both full of rainwater but not connected to any downpipe.
I've not had to water anything since June.
Bleedin' rain.
We gardeners are never happy, are we?
Try thinking about an IBC tank, they hold 1 cubic mtr of water or 1000ltrs and you can get them on eBay for upwards of £25ea. OK you may have to think about getting them delivered or collecting it / them yourself. Be careful too to make sure they are either professionally cleaned or you have the ways to clean them depending on what it was originally used for.
You can stack them and plumb them up easily too with a little extra pipework and you can be as simple or as complex as you like.
I have 7 water butts (of varying sizes) in my garden,
This summer i used 5000 ltrs (that's about 60 bath fulls) less water than last years summer (I'm on a water meter) so its saved me about a fiver a month on water rates, not much but better in my pocket than the water companies.
Last edited: 15 December 2017 13:22:29
I have 2 linked Butts at home & two on the allotment. At home I tend to keep the rainwater for the ericaceous and house plants. In a dry summer it is not enough. To keep clean, keep covered and a little Citrox greenhouse disinfectant. (based on citrus extract does not harm plants).
I've got one collecting water from the greenhouse but that's all. It's not possible to collect the rainwater from our roof because we have only one downpipe and that runs to a gulley at the side of our driveway. Put a butt there and we won't be able to get the cars on the drive.
I use a IBC tank it holds 1100 L had it three years now and not run it dry, but then I've not had to water often! a "full water of my veg garden takes 200L ish, so unless it decides not to rain for 3-4 weeks HA!
The tanks are not pretty and you need to make a good footing for them, mine sits on railway sleepers in the summer and I bring it in in the winter, no need for it to take the pounding from the elements when there is no chance I will need it for 5 months.
They also have a big sized hole to get the water back out, no waiting around here, I have it fitted with a standard tap and a hose on that, fills a 11ltr bucket in 30 seconds or so, or more importantly gives me enough pressure just from gravity to use the hose directly on it.
It most certainly saves me money, especially when we have ducklings who need fresh swimming water every day! I plan to pick up a pair more, as I can see that if we do get a few weeks without rain but with ducklings one will not do.