Garden Water Butts
One of the main benefits of owning a garden water butt is a saving on water costs. Collecting rainwater and using it from a water butt is completely free. Added to this is the fact that natural rainwater is untreated, unlike tap water, and most plants benefit and thrive better from being watered with rainwater. As well as being environmentally friendly, a garden water butt takes up little space but can be placed close to where you most need it to save traipsing back and forth to a water tap or the extra work of running a hose.
Sizes and Uses
Garden water butts come in different shapes and sizes depending on your expected use for it. The larger they are, the studier and heavier they will be. Ensure that the garden water butt you choose is strong enough to do the job, but don't buy something too small if you have a large garden to water, likewise, a small garden or patio will only need a small garden water butt. You can find a range of sizes from 20-litre plastic jerry cans through to large capacity metal water butts.
Most garden water butts are made from rigid plastic or PVC and some are more environmentally friendly coming from recycled plastics. Wooden butts are aesthetically pleasing but tend to be more expensive and might require more regular maintenance.
Plastic garden water butts are strong, light and durable and they normally come in green or back. They do tend to last a while and will, therefore, be a permanent feature in your garden, so do consider how they look. You can find plastic water butts made to look like real wood or stone and ones that are cylindrical, square or even hexagonal.
Placing a garden water butt next to a building with guttering is by far the easiest way to collect large quantities of rainwater but consider accessibility and ensure the ground supports are adequate enough to avoid any instability.