I started watering by hand when I got my rain barrels. I did not think there would have been enough pressure to make the sprinkler effective anyway. Even after moving the rain barrel to the back patio, I still water the lawn by hand out front. My rain barrels are now hooked up in tandem out back because the one spout there would fill up one barrel in minutes, where the barrel in front, where there are 4 spouts, sometimes wouldn't even get filled up all the way. Now I still only need one spout, and the overflows are attached to fill the second barrel. I must say that my plants sure seem to like the rain water better than the chlorinated/fluoridated water we BUY. AND it's Free! This has been a very dry summer, and my barrels have only gotten filled up twice since I got them...I guess I should pray for more rain, but then my husband has to work in it. Gotta' take the good with the bad I guess.
I remember years ago when there was a rather extended period of drought here in Houston there were water conservation regulations implemented and one was you could only water your lawn for 1/2 hour a day and then only by hand - that way you don't waste so much due to over-spray or FORGETTING to move/turn it off. I don't know how many times I left the sprinkler running too long. I started using a timer, but sometimes I would be occupied elsewhere and would not hear the dang thing go off. Watering by hand ensures you only put the water where you want it to go, and of course you won't forget about it if you're actively involved. This not only saves water, it subsequently saves money.
I just love doing the things the GREEN way...it's so FRUGAL!
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