How to collect rainwater and what are the benefits for your plants?

It is estimated that up to 24,000 litres of rainwater could be collected from a roof of an average house into water butts every year. Utilising rainwater collected at home throughout the year to water your plants and for garden usage may become invaluable ahead of summer heatwaves and dry spells, where hosepipe bans make collected rainwater a precious resource.

Making use of what nature provides is great for your garden. Find out in this blog why rainwater is better for your plants, and some different collection methods to suit your garden space.

There are several ways in which rainwater is better for your garden plants, and one of them is rainwater’s pH. ‘pH’ stands for ‘potential of hydrogen’ which determines how acidic or alkaline a solution is. Many plants are well suited to a neutral pH, although plants like Azaleas and Rhododendrons prefer acidic, and others like Geraniums and Lavender prefer alkaline. You can even use pH to your advantage for your garden’s aesthetic, as some plants change colour because of pH, including Hydrangeas, which shift between pink and blue depending on pH.

Rainwater has a neutral pH, whereas mains water has a slightly higher, more alkaline pH. Continued use of tap water to water your plants can gradually impact the soil’s pH, which may affect the health of your plants, particularly those acid-loving plants. By using the rainwater you have collected, the neutral pH will have a much smaller impact on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil, which is much better in the long term for your plants.

Additionally, there are chemicals in our tap water which help to make it cleaner and safer for us to drink, but which may not be the best for our plants’ health. Fluoride and chlorine are found in very trace amounts in our tap water, which is harmless to us but can have some negative impacts on some sensitive plants. Having perfectly clean water available is essential for humans, but plants don’t require their water to be completely clean for them to stay healthy.

Rainwater can contain some compounds which are beneficial to plants. For example, rainwater contains nitrates, which is a naturally occurring source of nitrogen, an essential component of chlorophyll, which is the part of a plant which facilitates photosynthesis. Tap water can contain traces of this, but rainwater can gain more of it through electrification in the atmosphere, caused by lightning.

The best and most well-known method is to collect rainwater in water butts. These collect rainwater by being connected to your guttering systems via a downpipe, where the water naturally drains off your roof, into the guttering system, then down the downpipe and into your water butt.

The first decision you would need to make is what size water butt would best you’re your garden’s needs. The average sizes range between 100 litres and 210 litres, although there are still even larger ones than these. For smaller gardens, a 100-litre water butt may be perfectly suitable, but for larger gardens, you would require much more water to keep your plants healthy, particularly during the drier, summer months. There are many different styles available, from the classic, plain water butts to those made into different shapes and with alternative materials to fit in with your garden design, at a slightly higher price, whether they are terracotta-style urns or repurposed wooden barrels. You can also purchase slimmer models to fit into tighter spaces, either if space is a luxury in your garden, or if you would like your water butt tucked away somewhere discreet.

You can then use this water to hydrate your plants, using a watering can or an irrigation system such as Irrigatia’s own. They have irrigation kits to suit gardens of any size, whether it is a few hanging baskets or an entire allotment garden. These kits have filters which stop small pieces of residue which may have entered your water butt from getting into the narrow tubing, and then automatically uses this water to hydrate your plants simply using the power of the sun. This would mean your watering system would be completely sustainable and independent, requiring little maintenance or work from you.

To ensure your water butt stays as clean and healthy as possible, make sure to position it somewhere in the shade, or as shaded a position as possible, as the sunlight can lead to higher temperatures, and therefore a higher risk of bacteria growth. Regularly check your guttering to make sure it is clean, and clear of debris, to avoid anything unwanted making its way into your water butt. Use the water regularly, so it can be constantly replenished with fresh water, and once a year, preferably in autumn, empty it out completely and give it a good clean.

Collecting natural rainwater to keep your plants healthy and hydrated has plenty of benefits, both to you, and your flourishing garden. By choosing to do so, with the addition of a sustainable Irrigatia kit to take the job of watering out of your hands, you can save valuable time.

Find the ideal automatic solar-powered irrigation system for your garden at Irrigatia.