A lid fits on each pot. With the rain barrel, this is sometimes even indispensable. If you have purchased a model without a suitable cover, you can easily add it by making the cover yourself. With the instructions on this page, this is child's play.

A lid prevents parts of plants and other things from getting into the water

Benefits of a lid

  • Protection from falling leaves
  • Protection against breeding mosquitoes
  • Protection against evaporation
  • The rain barrel also serves as a storage space
  • Pets do not fall into the rain barrel
  • Less algae formation

It goes without saying that a lid on your water butt prevents leaves from accumulating. But did you know that mosquitoes in particular like to lay their eggs in the water butt. This can become a real nuisance in humid summers. The risk of pets falling into the rain barrel is also often underestimated. For example, cats love to fish for dragonflies or algae that move in the water. Speaking of algae, the unwelcome aquatic plants need light to develop. If you take this away from them with a lid, only a few species can survive. Ultimately, you benefit from a higher water yield due to less evaporation and an attractive appearance when you place flower pots on the rain barrel.

Requirements for the lid

  • Removable
  • Custom fit
  • Stable

In order to be able to check the water level regularly, a removable lid is recommended. This also makes cleaning easier. Bear in mind that in winter there are masses of snow on the cover and they exert a great deal of weight. Ultimately, even the prettiest lid doesn't serve its purpose if it doesn't fit perfectly on the water butt.

Build a lid for the rain barrel yourself

  1. Place clear material that is easy to cut on top of the rain barrel.
  2. Use a sharpie to trace the outline of the inside edge of the opening.
  3. Cut out the circle.
  4. Use the template to cut a matching lid from the desired material.
  5. Proceed in the same way with the opening of the downpipe.
  6. In this case, instead of making another cover, use the template to drill a hole in the cover.
  7. If you use wood to make your lid, we recommend impregnating it with environmentally friendly, weather-resistant paint.
  8. Put the lid on the rain barrel.
  9. Pass the downpipe through the hole provided.

Category:

Garden design