Catch rainwater in a barrel and use it to water your lawn and the plants in your garden.
Rainwater can be used to water lawns, gardens and indoor plants during times when the weather is dry. When the rain comes, an easy way to catch the water is to place a barrel at the base of a downspout that branches off of a gutter on the edge of a roof. The key is to have the gutter, downspout and barrel in place before the rain comes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Locate a downspout that extends down from a gutter attached to the edge of a roof. Level a section of ground beneath the downspout, using a shovel and a rake.
2. Place the patio blocks face up on the leveled area underneath the downspout. Lay the patio blocks so the edges fit tightly together to create a flat surface for the barrel to sit on.
3. Place the barrel next to the downspout to use as a guide for fitting the downspout securely in the barrel.
4. Remove the screws that attach the downspout elbow, using a screwdriver. Remove the elbow. Remove the screws from the downspout bracket near the base of the structure.
5. Pull the lower end of the downspout so it angles away from the structure. Allow at least a 2 inch space for the edge of the barrel to fit between the inside edge of the downspout and the outer edge of the structure.
6. Reposition the barrel by tipping it on its side with the opening of the barrel facing the bottom tip of the downspout. Position the downspout so the end of the downspout goes into the top of the barrel. Pull the barrel upright making sure the downspout fits securely inside the barrel.
7. Reposition the downsprout bracket so it rests above the top of the barrel. Reattach the bracket using the same screws to secure the bracket to the structure.
Tags: downspout that, edge roof, patio blocks, rain comes, Remove screws