Rain in Texas tends to be feast or famine. We are now in a period of drought, but the rains will return. And when they do, are you ready to maximize rainfall for your lawn and garden?
There are some easy steps to take now and going forward that will help you manage rainwater and store excess for periods of drought.
It’s time to clean gutters
Gutters are essential during heavy rainfall. They divert water away from your house where it can damage your foundation, erode soil and feed mold. Gutters also protect your siding, trim and landscaping. To work properly, however, gutters need to be clean. One season of leaf debris is enough to clog them, so if you have not cleaned your gutters recently, now is the time and our crew can help.
Collecting raindrops
Rainwater is perfect for your landscape. It is chlorine and salt free and a perfect ph. And during times of drought and water restrictions, stored water helps you protect your most valuable plants and trees.
To quickly start saving water, add a downspout to an existing gutter and attach a food grade barrel. One good rain in central Texas can fill a 55-gallon barrel.
If you have no downspout, you can install a rain chain which will attractively guide rain to your collection point. And if you have no gutter, you can position your barrel under a valley in your roof line.
As you see the benefits of collecting rainwater, you can amplify your collection system with mosquito barriers, additional barrels, and faucets.
Directing rain, not washing away
Even with a rainwater collection system, heavy rains can deliver more than you can capture.
Undirected rainwater erodes valuable topsoil, floods low spots, damage foundations and runoff floods into streets where it contaminates the water table. To benefit the environment and your lawn redirect rainwater into a raingarden.
A rain garden is a shallow depression designed to temporarily capture excess rain to filter it gently back into the soil instead of running off into roads. It converts a natural low spot where water gravitaes into a beautiful garden and focal feature. But a rain garden is more than function, they are attractive elem additionally can add a
It can become a beautiful garden itself filed with planting for love moisture
It pays to save
Conserving water saves you money in the long run, but even in the short term with financial incentives. In Texas, you rainwater harvesting equipment purchases are tax free.
And in Austin, there are a number of rebates for your waterwise landscaping projects and rainwater harvesting investments.
