does anyone use rain barrells for watering?

I have 2 acres& 4 water hydrants.I REALLY don't think hubby will add me one to water plants.....even though I pay this bill myself.I'd like to add some plants at other end but water source is not close by& would need 300 ft plus of hose for watering.I was wondering if could use rain barrels to do my watering from.I'm eventully adding azealas& rhoddys to an area of trees when ever finish clearing it out more.are 2 fig trees in this area also.is another spot further away that is along fenceline & need to plant shrubs to block neighbors& too keep my dogs from barking at their dogs.they have a pit bull and my bassett hound likes to get in his face then spotty bites his ears& they each have a piece bit from them and one has a new hole not all the way through,but I need to be able to water plants without lugging 5 gallon buckets on dolly or wheel barrel(I'd rather not win ms fitness of the year award)
also...if used one of them 55 drums thats blue do I need to cover top somehow for evaporation?this is TX ya know

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

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You know, I was just looking at a small rain barrel for my spare lot.......there isn't a water hookup over there and I may start some plants there this spring.......

They seem like a great way to conserve water usage too.

Papito, my dad is like you, he uses all kinds of water catching containers because they have so much to water......He always did that when we lived in England too.....lots of rain over there.....lol

I am so excited, I went over to Menards today and bought everything to make my first rainbarrel. We are finished making it and it turned out perfect and I probably only have about 10$ invested in it .When reading about rainbarrels I've heard its good to throw a couple of goldfish in there to eat the mosquito eggs and help keep it clean, I am wondering if they will help with the algae? and I was thinking about putting a few of those slug lookin things that we used to keep in our aquarium to keep it clean, they just stick to the sides and eat the algae. Anyone have any ideas on it?

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I am old, and repotting wont help!

Jiffymouse
Well this was the first of three rain barrels that I intend to make. This first one is going to take care of the north end corner of the yard which is our deck, potted plants and rock garden[all flowers]. I bought a green plastic 32 gallon garbage barrel for $7.00, A $2.38 faucet valvue[plastic one], two rubber washers and a plastic nut for the inside of the barrel. I just eyed it up and decided how high I wanted the spicket,traced the size of the part that attaches to the barrel. Then I just put the washer over the hole, stuck the valve on, and then from the inside, put the other washer on the short inside threads and screwed on the nut tight and we are ready to go. I will cut a peice from the lid and somehow glue some fiberglass sreening from the inside over that peice to strain the water as it comes out of the rain pipe. This should also keep out mosquitos and other bugs because the lid fits nice and snug, but I still hope to add the gold fish and aquarium cleaners. The barrel is made by rubbermaid and is not FDA approved which is why I'm using that barrel for the flowers. I am looking into finding some food grade barrels for the other ones to water what we eat, and will set it up the exact same way. We have a plastics factory in town and so I am hoping to get some discarded barrels. I wonder, am I making too big a thing about the container being food grade??? I really like the looks of how this first barrel turned out, its a dark Hunter green and works with my house[ not an eyesore yet functional] But it sounds like others collect their water with anything, do you think contaminants leech out into the water much???Oh and one last note, my brother reminded me that I had better place a small peice of screen over my valve inside the barrel before screwing on the nut so I wont have my goldfish getting stuck in the value or plugging up my hose .But I am going to have it maybe a foot off the grond and a hose attached so I can just water with the hose instead of filling water cans. It was an easy project and I am so proud of myself, none of the guys in Menards could understand what I was looking for, had to do it allllll myself, but of course, I am a plumbers daughter, maybe that gives me the advantage

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I am old, and repotting wont help!

that is exactly what i was thinking you did, now that i know, i can do something similar. great idea!

They work great but keep them covered to prevent mosquitos from hatching in there.

If you have the resources, you could consider an underground cistern that fills from the roof(s).

limey....I just HAVE to ask.....hows that rain barrel in your winters?how about ole blue there?ya eat him then?.LOL

Well the area where am planning to plant is shaded mostly so heat is not a real problem.....well it still gets hot in the shade when is triple digits,but think would be fine there and could place the others in shaded area at other end.

need to hear more on screens

1 cup of white distilled vinegar will control algea in a 100 gallon pond once a month.won't harm fish or plants.

those that have rain barrels in use......do you ever wash them yearly or anything?

I like the sound of faucet attached barrel,but think would go soaker hose

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
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