Article: Roll out the barrel, the rain barrel that is!: Question re: winter

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Author Content gabagoo Yonkers, NY (Zone 5b) March 20, 2008 04:15 PM Post #4687598 I have been thinking about setting up a rain barrel(s) for my garden. When I read the descriptions for the ones advertised in the catalogues, on-line sites, etc. They say they have to be stored during the winter months. Is this true? I don't live in an area that gets a non-stop deep freeze for days on end. I'm in zone 6. I don't think it would totally freeze solid. If this is something that can be left out year-round, I will look into it further. However, if not - I probably would have to pass on it. I don't have a place where I could store them. No basement, no garage. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. carrielamont Milton, MA (Zone 6a) March 20, 2008 05:42 PM Post #4687847 Me too, Paul, same situation. We do have a garage but it is completely full of people's (none of it is mine!) STUFF. x, Carrie edgeoftheworld Conneaut, OH (Zone 5a) March 20, 2008 06:56 PM Post #4688077 I bought mine,paid about $100.00 per barrel.Own 8 barrels.I was told to bring them inside during the winter.I store them empty in my unheated garage.Apparently they will freeze solid and split.Too much money invested for me to take the chance.They stack well but still take up room.If disconnected the barrels so no water would go in them,They could probably be stored outside during the winter.I live in zone 5,have the room to store them inside,so I do.Edge carrielamont Milton, MA (Zone 6a) March 20, 2008 09:22 PM Post #4688738 Lucky for you, Edge! (Sounds like you got a great deal, too.) wvgardendeva Berkeley Springs, WV (Zone 6a) March 24, 2008 10:26 AM Post #4702546 I live in the Eastern Panhandle of WV - Zone 6 - and have two rain barrels that I got last summer. I left them outside this winter with temps into the mid-teens some nights. They had water in them but were not completely full. They survived the winter just fine, even the hoses on them were Ok. I have been using the water all winter for my house plants. cedar18 Lula, GA (Zone 7b) March 24, 2008 12:28 PM Post #4703107 Zone 7a. We have had our purchased rain barrel 10 years and left it outside, empty all that time (uh, mostly). It has however developed a leak recently. We haven't solved it yet. Could just be accumulation of freeze/thaw and maybe even breakdown of sunlight. With the terrible drought N. Ga. has been in, we have been quite proud that we did the RB thing a long time ago. :) postmandug Bardstown, KY (Zone 6a) August 26, 2009 01:38 PM Post #6990835 I know it's late to bump this thread, but all I do is turn mine upside down in the winter. Possible freezing problem solved... Doug gabagoo Yonkers, NY (Zone 5b) August 26, 2009 08:55 PM Post #6992273 Thanks, Doug! I think that would probably work. Nancy

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Subject Thread Starter Replies Last Post Great read, one question though astcgirl 6 Apr 7, 2008 5:13 PM Good and timely article Dutchlady1 1 Mar 20, 2008 3:16 PM great flowrgirl1 0 Mar 20, 2008 12:18 PM For the unhandyman edgeoftheworld 1 Mar 21, 2008 4:23 PM rainbarrel availability nettesbulldog 0 Mar 20, 2008 9:22 PM