It’s not a mystery as to why water use and utility costs increase during the summer months – just take a look at your yard and other landscape areas in the neighborhood. Larger yard areas need a lot of water to thrive in hot and dry weather conditions. Regular lawn care generally requires more than 1,000 gallons of water per month, and according to the Mid-America Regional Council, roughly 40% of total water consumption goes toward outdoor use in the summer.
This level of usage all adds up on water and electric bills, and even more so in times of drought or extreme heat. Fortunately, there are ways to supplement water use for outdoor activities that will save you money, specifically, the eco-conscious practice of harvesting rainwater for garden care and other applications.
Gardening with Rainwater Makes a Difference
When you think about it, using rainwater for landscaping purposes just might be nature’s true intent since the alternative is letting the water go to waste, and the grass really does appear greener after rainfall. Rain is a pure, natural irrigation resource for lawns and gardens that allows plant life to flourish because it’s soft, untreated water that is free of contaminants.
Gardening with rainwater reduces homeowners’ use of the municipal water supply while decreasing overall demand and utility expenses. More importantly, rainwater harvesting is free and environmentally friendly! There are many other cultivation and environmental benefits of using rainwater for lawn care and gardening which we’ll share below.
Here are some examples:
Harvesting rainwater enables both water and energy conservation. Collecting rainwater allows nature and gravity to tend your garden, making it very eco-friendly. As a result, this reduces your carbon footprint and utility costs while conserving water because you’re not relying on the public water supply or private wells and the energy input to treat and then pump it into your home.
It reduces water pollution and the risk of flooding. Storing rainwater for use on-site decreases the volume of stormwater runoff and threat of groundwater pollution (water pollutants that enter storm sewers), in addition to protecting the local water table resource. Also, it helps minimize drainage issues that can cause flooding as well as soil and foundation erosion.
Rainwater is better than tap water for plant care. Rainwater is naturally soft and pure without any of the salts (that are harmful to soil and roots), minerals, and chemicals that are present in tap water. The quality of rainwater is beneficial to plants as it has more oxygen than tap water, and also contains nitrates and absorbs carbon dioxide, which provide the roots, soil, and plants all of the necessary organic nutrients that they need for superior healthy growth. Additionally, rainwater maintains a balanced pH level in the soil. All of these elements give gardens a more vibrant, lush, green, and healthy appearance.
If you want to do your part to conserve natural water resources and revitalize your lawn and garden, you’ve got options and we have solutions!
Start Watering your Garden with Rainwater
It’s easy to replace tap water with rainwater for all of your landscaping needs – plus, your garden and wallet will thank you. All you really need to harvest rain for gardening is a good storage barrel or tank, and a catchment area, typically your roof and gutters. Once your barrels fill up, grab a watering can, or hose attachment and you’re ready to go. Other than the initial investment in storage containers, the process of rainwater harvesting is entirely free and you’ll see those utility bills go down!
Plastic Mart’s rain barrels are available in a variety of styles, sizes, and opaque colors (green, white, black, and brown) which also reduce exposure to light to inhibit algae growth.
Our products are the best solution for your rain harvesting needs. So, whether you’re collecting rainwater as an emergency backup supply, to use in the garden and other outdoor activities, we’ve got you covered! For more information, get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help you!
