Landscape Construction: Rain Barrels

Use rain barrels to store water from the rooftops for later use on the lawn garden.

Rain barrels collect and store rainwater from rooftops. Water collection in a rain barrel prevents water from flowing across the yard or driveway into a storm drain or surface water area. Rain barrels come in lightweight, rustproof plastic containers up to 54 gallons and can be located just below existing downspouts. Keep the top of the barrel tight and use the water within a week to prevent any chance of mosquitoes developing.