Only if race, Vegetable beds and flower borders are sufficiently watered during the growing season, the garden looks well maintained. Many garden friends, however, fear that through the daily irrigationtheir plants incur high costs. Drinking water is scarce, valuable and prices are rising steadily. An inexpensive and environmentally friendly method is the use of rainwater. It is also more beneficial for plants as it contains neither chlorine nor lime. With rain water, irrigation in the garden can be done almost free of charge.

Containers for collecting rainwater

For rainwater to be used efficiently, a suitable collection container is required. Except the classic rain barrelRainwater storage tanks are also suitable for this purpose. A rainwater storage is a must in a larger garden. Rainwater barrels are placed directly under the gutter. They are available in different shapes, colors and sizes. The rain barrel Arcado of the manufacturer 3P consists of sandstone. This container can collect a maximum of 360 liters of rainwater. In contrast, water tanks can collect several thousand liters of rainwater, depending on the model. To be representative at this point the rainwater flat tank Oceanis of the manufacturer Rotationsvertrieb Gera mentioned. In this rainwater storage can store and store 1700 liters of rainwater. Tip: The purchase of such a colossus can be worthwhile even if the neighbors of two adjoining garden plots agree to share the cost and use the rainwater storage together for garden irrigation. Practical in such a tank is also equipped with pumps and taps. As a result, the irrigation system can be supplied with water directly from the rainwater reservoir and no heavy watering cans need to be towed from the rainwater reservoir to the beds at the other end of the garden.

Different variants of rainwater storage tanks

Anyone who wants to store and store rainwater generally has the choice between an above-ground and an underground variant. The aboveground method uses water tanks or rain barrels. In the underground version, rainwater is collected and stored in flat tanks or cisterns. The two variants differ in terms of effort and costs. Which method is best depends, among other things, on how the rainwater is to be used, how much rain falls in the region and what amount of rainwater is to be collected.

Criteria that must be considered when purchasing a rainwater storage tank

When purchasing the following factors must be considered:

– Material
– Shape
– Execution
– capacity
– Possibilities for water extraction
– Type of connections
– Equipment with level indicator
– delivery
– Assembly
– Cover
– Accessories offered by the manufacturer

Furthermore, an integrated electronic control system makes it possible to fill the completely emptied water reservoir with tap water, so that the garden plants do not have to be thirsty even during prolonged periods of drought.

The optimal location for rainwater storage

When installing the rain barrel or the tank, it is essential to ensure that the rainwater collector is in a safe position. The substrate must be level and stable. In order to achieve a level surface, it is recommended to excavate a hole with a depth of 20 centimeters. This should be about 10 centimeters wider than the rainwater storage, for example, the corner bin Nice of Amur. Then the hole is filled with a 10 cm high layer of gravel and thoroughly compacted using a conventional manual rammer. This is followed by a 5 cm high sand layer. The conclusion is concrete slabs that visually match the garden paths.

Advantages and disadvantages of rainwater storage tanks

advantages

– cost-effective irrigation
– Rainwater is better tolerated by plants
– Also suitable as a toilet flush and for the garden shower
– Acquisition costs pay for themselves within a very short time due to the water saving

disadvantage

– must be completely emptied before the first frost
– prolonged dry periods must be bridged with tap water
– recommended for washing clothes only conditionally, as contained in rain water iron and / or manganese can cause discoloration