Brian Jervis Ask a Master Gardener
There is plenty of water available now, but come July and August, many gardeners will be trying to figure out if we can give our plants the water they need without breaking the bank.
We’re probably a bit spoiled, actually. All most of us need to do to get the water we need is to open the tap. However, the water that comes out of that faucet comes with a cost. To counter this, it would not be a bad idea to consider building a water collection system to be able to take advantage of the free water that falls from the sky. So, let’s talk about how to do this.
First, you need a strategy for collecting water. Do you have ducts on your house? If so, problem solved. If not, collecting rainwater to use in your garden will be more problematic.
If you have gutters, then you will need to get some kind of collection vessel like a barrel. So you need some hardware to do all the work.
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Rain collection containers come in all shapes and sizes. I did a little research on the Internet, and it seems that you can start with a 100-liter PVC rain barrel for about $ 60. But there are many options with collection containers in almost every shape, size and price.
Once you have your gutter chosen, you need to get a device called a diverter that directs the water from your gutter and into the collection device. Most of these devices will require you to cut your guttering to install, which for the most part is a minor installation. Basically, this device diverts some of the water from your tank into your collection container. Some are more famous than others. The fancy ones have a valve that allows you to turn off the power supply to your collection container.
With a collection container that is sealed, once it is full and the water has filled the tube, the water will not stop flowing into the container. However, many of the containers are open on the top, so you will probably want one with a valve so you can direct the water into the channel when the container is full. This is good because sometimes here in Oklahoma, it feels like we have all the water at once.
Another thing to consider is gravity. You want to raise your container a foot or so above ground level, so that the water flows with gravity. If your container is at ground level and you connect it to a hose that you are using in your garden, the water will not flow because, chances are, your hand holding the hose will be higher than the spigot from the container. Yes, you can put the spigot from the container about halfway up the container, but then you would never be able to access the water under the spigot. You probably get the idea.
Typically, the city of Tulsa has a period of time during the year when you can order a rain barrel, but they are also available commercially around town. So, as we wait for the gardening season to begin, now might be a good time to make a little investment in using rainwater for your garden. Good luck.
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You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, by stopping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th St. or email us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org.
