Rain barrels, also called water catchment systems, collect rainwater that runs down the roof and into the gutters of a home. The barrel has an outlet or hose attachment at the bottom that allows you to run a garden hose to other areas of the yard and water plants with the collected water. One negative aspect of rain barrels is that they are not very attractive, unless you can cover them with evergreen vines. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place a roll of wire mesh or chicken wire at one edge of the rain barrel. Have another person hold it in place while you unroll the wire around to the other side of the rain barrel.
2. Cut off the excess wire on the roll with tin snips and set the roll aside.
3. Secure the bottom of the fence material to the ground, using hooked tent stakes spaced every 6 inches. If desired, you can also dig a 6-inch-deep trench with a shovel to bury the bottom of the wire mesh in the ground to secure the mesh.
4. Lean the top of the wire mesh backward so it rests against the rain barrel.
5. Measure out 5 inches from the wire, dig a hole 2-feet wide but only as deep as the root system of the evergreen vine, using the shovel. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole with the shovel tip, then add bone meal to the hole, using the amount specified on the bag.
6. Place the roots of the vine seedlings in the hole and backfill with soil so only the roots are under the ground's surface.
7. Water the soil until it is damp to a 3- or 4-inch depth. Afteward water only when the top inch of the soil is dry.
8. Wait until the vines reach 4 to 5 inches high, then tie them to the wire mesh with a 6-inch piece of gardening tape tied in a knot at the ends. Once the vines mature, they will cling to the wire naturally, and you can cut away the gardening tape.
Tags: wire mesh, rain barrel, gardening tape, with shovel