Homegrown: Winterizing rain barrels

Many Iowans were new owners of rain barrels this year, through the Indian Creek Nature Center's “million gallon challenge.”

Lynn Ruck, co-owner of Rain Water Solutions of Raleigh, N.C., which provided the barrels, said the containers should be winterized to prevent cracking.

The best way is to drain the barrel completely and move it away from the downspout so it's not catching rain water.

Ruck said it's possible for barrels to survive the winter completely full of water, but with Iowa's weather, it's better not to take that chance.

Another possibility is to attach a hose to the spigot and keep the barrel constantly draining away from your home, onto your lawn or another place that needs water. The risk is the freeze-thaw cycles that could cause the plastic to crack.

The Nature Center is selling gift certificates for the rain barrels to give for the holidays. Barrels will arrive in the spring.

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