Higgs Boson wrote:
On May 20, 5:13 pm, Nad R wrote:

At least my rain barrels are full incase of a early dry pattern.


--NAD, do you put anything in your rain barrels to avoid mosquitoes or
other contamination? Like bleach or something else? Of course it would
have to be "mild" enough not to harm plants when it is eventually poured on them.

HB

I put nothing in them. My barrels are small with an open top, only forty
gallons each under each of the five downspouts. So they fill up fast and
then overflow. The over flow seems to keep bugs and green muck (a
scientific term here) from forming on top. I use them one at a time. If it
does not rain and I see bugs or green muck then I will top them off from my
well water or top it off from another barrel so it overflows until muck is
gone.

However, the green muck does not bother me. Mosquitoes tend to come from
the drainage ditches or my 1/2 acre pond. Which I can also be used to feed
the garden. However, I prefer the pond full and use the barrels or the well
waters hard line ( non filtered). The rain barrels are more convenient.
When the pond gets low the edge is a muddy muck for more mosquitoes. I do
have a hand pump also from the pond... Just in case of severe drought and
not over use the well (expensive).

Things are starting to dry out now. Just a scattered shower each day
instead of the long rains. Memorial Weekend is usually the big garden
planting time here in Michigan. This weekend may still be too wet for the
main canning garden (about 5,000 sq ft). I will get the smaller kitchen
garden (about 64 sq ft) going that are raised beds near my back deck.

--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)