Use wine barrels as rain barrels
Rain barrels from the hardware store are mostly made of plastic and unfortunately not very attractive. How about using old wine barrels as rain barrels instead and collecting the rainwater in them? When you have decided on this alternative, you should search the internet; you will surely find what you are looking for there, because there are companies that sell used wine barrels. But used wine barrels are also offered on the flea market and in internet auctions.
Water is precious and tap water is far too good to be watered and unfortunately also expensive! In addition, tap water is often very calcareous, which plants do not particularly like. If you have the opportunity to collect rainwater, you will certainly do something good for your wallet - but also for your flowers - with it. If you use old wine barrels for this, it also looks very decorative.
Wine Barrels For Rainwater - How To Use Them
- If the wine barrel is still completely closed, you have to remove the bottom on one side. To do this, drill as large a hole as possible close to the outer edge of the floor with a wood drill, then saw it using a jigsaw by inserting the saw blade into the hole and then making the wood circular saw out. If remains of the floor cling to the edge, you can carefully knock them off with a hammer.
- Next, you should check the wine barrel for leaks. If the wood is very dry, the planks may have shrunk and water seeps through. Place the wine barrel on a dry surface and fill it with water. If water seeps out from between the planks, keep adding water. With a little luck, the wood swells after a few hours and the barrel is tight again.
- However, if the barrel continues to lose water, you will need to seal it. A cost-effective way to seal the rain barrel is sanitary silicone, which you can inject into the cracks and joints from the inside. To do this, however, the barrel must be completely dry beforehand so that the sealant adheres to the wood.
- Ideally, of course, place the wine barrel under an open downspout. The rainwater runs into the rain gutter and through the downpipe directly into your rain barrel. When the rain barrel is full, the water overflows. However, this can usually not harm an old wine barrel. To prevent the bin from rotting from below, however, you should place it on a thick layer of gravel.
- When the gardening season is over, you should empty the rain barrel and remove any leaves. Then put them in a well-ventilated, cool place. Direct sunlight should be avoided to prevent the wood from shrinking.
- In the spring you check the seat of the metal straps and check whether the wine barrel is still tight. Then put it back on the gravel bed and enjoy good, free irrigation water.
Water is precious and expensive - this is one of the reasons why it makes sense to ...
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