These days, rainfall can be unpredictable. Luckily, a garden’s access to water doesn’t have to be.

This spring, you may have spent much of the season planting new flowers and maintaining existing vegetation to support visiting pollinators, from bees to butterflies. Keeping gardens healthy often requires frequent watering, which can use a significant amount of water. Even as much of Maryland experiences drought conditions, rain barrels can provide a reliable source of water collected during wetter months.

By capturing runoff directly from a garage or shed gutter, a 50-gallon rain barrel can store water for later use. A simple hose and spigot make it easy to fill a watering can and provide targeted watering for plants and flowers. In fact, just one substantial rainfall can fill a barrel and provide several days’ worth of water for gardening needs.

Did you know the City of College Park offers 50-gallon rain barrels for $86.39? The cost is more than offset by the years of use and water savings a rain barrel can provide. Additionally, Prince George’s County residents may be eligible for the Rain Check Rebate Program, which can reimburse the full cost of a rain barrel purchase.

Learn more about the rebate program at https://cbtrust.org/grants/prince-georges-county-rain-check-rebate/.

Happy gardening!