Water butts and rain diverters for the garden and greenhouse
Plants prefer rainwater to hard tap water, and it costs you nothing. A 210 litre water butt on a stand fills from a downpipe through a diverter kit. A greenhouse roof catches rain too, and you can add gutters and a second butt next to it. On a stand the tap sits high enough to fit a watering can under it.
Charles Bentley 210 L water butt set
Water butt with stand and tap, very well reviewed
£62 at Amazon · 4.5 stars (1,553)
Slimline water butt, 100 L or 210 L
Narrow butt for a tight spot beside the house
£57 at Amazon · 4.5 stars (274)
Rainwater diverter kit, white
Fits round and square downpipes
£21 at Amazon · 4.6 stars (1,008)
Floplast rainwater diverter kit, black
Diverter from a UK guttering brand
£22 at Amazon · 4.7 stars (106)
Prices and ratings from Amazon.co.uk when we checked. Affiliate links. We have not tested these ourselves.
What to look for
- Put a lid on every butt. It keeps out leaves, mosquito larvae and small children.
- A diverter kit stops filling once the butt is full and sends the rest down the drain.
- Link two butts with a connector kit to store twice as much without a second diverter.
- Use stored rainwater on established plants. Many growers water seedlings with fresh tap water to avoid disease.