Ornamental Water Butts: 7 Stunning Rain Storage Systems
There’s more to these ornamental water butts than meets the eye. From giant plant pot designs to water butts disguised as stone walling, these secret garden water butt designs are sure to impress your friends and neighbours.
And trust us, you won’t know whether that water feature is real or a clever artificial design until you get up close and personal. In this blog post, we take a look at some of the most unusual ornamental water butts that double as garden ornaments. Each one is a little different, so read on for inspiration.
About Water Butts
Water Butts are the simplest of things. They exist to collect and distribute rainwater. They have been around since the Middle Ages and were used by farmers to water their livestock and irrigate their crops. The only major change to their design was the switch from lead to plastic in the 1980s, when lead was discovered to be bad for human health.
They are inexpensive to install and maintain and can be installed almost anywhere, even on a rooftop. They are a great way to save money by reducing or eliminating the need to water your landscaping with treated drinking water.
Water Butts can be used to provide drinking water for livestock or be filled with non-potable water to wash cars, clean floors, or water gardens. They can be used to collect water for a variety of purposes, such as keeping fish tanks full or watering gardens during spells of drought. And they make great compost bins when filled with kitchen scraps.
7 Ornamental Water Butts that look like Garden Features
These 7 beautiful rainwater systems are taking rainwater collection to another level and making a virtue out of saving rainwater for watering the garden. Up until now, rain collection has been the preserve of hardcore gardeners, with little to no attention paid to the aesthetics of this pursuit.
Those days are gone! Thanks to this group of gorgeous, stylish and on-trend ornamental water butts, even the most style-conscious of us can now enjoy collecting rainwater with a sense of panache.
Read on to discover a fantastic range of water butts that make rain harvesting look like an architectural feature of your garden:
Giant Amphora Water Butts
Include a Mediterranean flair in your landscape with these giant Amphora Water Butts which come with a planter and plant fleece. Its intricate details and weather/UV resistance make this water butt a great addition to any garden, whether you opt for the Terracotta or Granite colour.
The tap hole is included, so no drilling is required. A chrome tap is also included, as is a pre-fitted inlet seal and threaded connection. Downpipe however, is not included and must be purchased as an optional extra.
The Amphora Water Butt Collection is a range of different-sized ornamental water butts disguised as giant plant pots and you can view the full range here: Amphora Water Butts
Column Water Tanks
Column Water Tanks are stone replica column ornamental water butts, which are weatherproof and extremely durable. These water tanks are available in sand beige and stone grey colours, and they will improve the appearance of your garden.
Includes: Brass Tap. Pre-fitted inlet seal & threaded connection for tap, so no need for drilling. Downpipe not included but can be bought as an optional extra.
Garden Planter Water Butts
These sturdy and weather-resistant 380 Litre Garden Planters Water Butts, available in a variety of gorgeous colours including marble-effect, green, pink, red, purple and grey, come with a Tap Kit & Diverter and are sure to brighten up your garden.
They have a capacity of 380 litres as well as a planting bowl of 40 litres to house a range of bright flowers and plants. As well as having two outlets, these garden planter water butts are also UV-stabilised, frost-proof and won’t lose their shape when full.
Includes 1 x standard diverter with hose (for a 68mm diameter or 65mm square downpipe) round with 50cm of hose and a grommet so it can be fitted from the downpipe. Brass Tap Downpipe Grommet Planter Plug to stop soil and debris from falling into the water butt
Barrel Water Butts
The water butt barrels have a remarkable wood effect finish. These ornamental water butts keep your garden plants hydrated with a traditional style. They are made from tough plastic and have outstanding detailing to look like old oak beer barrels.
You don’t have to hide a water butt barrel away from visitors because its design and quality will make you proud to show it off! These barrels are moulded from a UV and impact-resistant material, so they keep their looks and shapes over the years.
Using rainwater collected for free, you can lower your water bill and obtain water free of chlorine—which inhibits plant growth in drinking water.
Using rainwater outside is advantageous because the water maintains its natural temperature, which ensures that your plants are not subjected to cold water from the tap. These old beer barrel-styled water butts come in a range of sizes to suit any sized garden and will add a dash of old-world style to any setting.
Slimline Water Butt Planters
This slimline water butt planter in six different colours is a great focal point for any garden, while the tasteful yet understated design will certainly impress family and friends.
A rotational-moulded, UV-stabilised polymer planter that saves and recycles rainwater directly from your downpipe is the simple way to do so while creating beautiful displays all year round (Wall thickness 6-7mm, guaranteed frost-free technology, 7-8mm thickness).
Using bricks, concrete blocks, or flat railway sleepers, you can raise the slimline water butt planter up. Make sure that the water butt is supported all the way around and sits on a flat, level base. The Water Butt Planter comes with a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
What’s included?
- 1x 280 Litre Slimline Water Butt Planter
- 1x Standard downpipe diverter
- 1x Tap
Benefits:
- Comes complete with tap, and standard rainwater diverter
- Frost proof in winter; plastic will not crack in cold
- Slimline design – ideal when space is limited
- Shape maintained when full of water
- Robust, heavy duty product; industrial strength
- Opaque plastic reduces algae growth in sunlight
- Rotationally moulded for strength & durability
- Ornamental water butts that look great in any garden
Specs:
- Height: 975mm
- Length: 1100mm
- Width: 340mm
- Bowl depth: 2 x 145mm
- Bowl capacity: 2 x 17 litre
- Outlet: ¾ BSP
- Weight: 20kg
- Capacity: 280 litres / 62 gal
- Material: Polyethylene
Please note: The stand is not included and is for display purposes only.
Metropolitan Water Butts
The Metropolitan Water Butt can store rainwater and accommodate your plants at the same time. A bowl that is moulded into the top of these water butts can serve as a plant container, and you can plug the hole with a plastic bung to prevent debris from falling in.
This beautifully-designed Metropolitan water butt is made from virgin, recyclable polymer and is fully frost-proof, making it suitable for year-round use. The UV stabilisation technology prevents colour fade, guaranteeing a long-lasting colour.
With the water butt, you get:
- 1 x standard diverter (for a 68mm diameter or 65mm square downpipe) round with 50cm of hose and a grommet so it can be fitted from the downpipe
- 1 x brass tap with PTFE tape
- 1 x planter plug
- 1 x shut-off valve
- 1 x 32mm drill bit
Dimensions:
- Height: 1250mm
- Diameter: 630mm
- Reservoir Capacity: 255 Litres
- Bowl Height: 170mm
- Bowl Diameter: 520mm
- Bowl Capacity: 36 Litres
- Weight (when empty): 13kg
- Outlets: 2 x ½ BSP”
Stone Effect Water Butt
This stone effect water butt offers the look of a real stone wall with a lid, a chrome tap, and a wall-mounting bracket.
These rainwater storage containers are UV-protected and weatherproof and are perfect for collecting rain water in your own garden. Stone-effect water butts will add an architectural feature to your garden and can be installed easily on any solid, flat surface, whether straight onto a patio or deck, or mounted on bricks, blocks or sleepers.
The childproof lid can also be adapted to include a planter (the planter is included but not installed). There are three 3/4 brass threaded ports – one for the tap and the other two for drain-down near the base – one on either side.
Dimensions:
- Height: 118cm (46.5 inches)
- Width: 80cm (31.5 inches)
- Depth: 40cm (16 inches)
- Capacity: 300 Litres (66 Gallons)
Water butts are ideal water catchment solutions for the home or business owner because they capture and distribute rainwater that would otherwise go to waste.
Besides helping you save money in the long-term, they also provide an attractive and functional piece of landscaping and an attractive way to collect water for plants and irrigation throughout the year. Water butts also make great decorative pieces in your garden, helping to bring colour and life to your outdoor space.
Water butts are available in a variety of materials and come in a range of sizes, so you can find one that suits your needs. They can be used for many different purposes, including irrigation, lawn watering, and even as a planter! So, whether you need a planter for your flowers or you want a water butt for your rainwater collection, we hope you find a water butt that fits your needs!
Where to buy
Fresh Kit recommends purchasing your ornamental water butts from Water Butts Direct, an independent UK retailer of quality water butts that offers great value and top-class customer service. Read Reviews
Water Butts Direct are the UK’s Largest Range of Water Butts, Rain Barrels & Rainwater Harvesting Products. Leading manufacturer & distributor of gardening, recycling & water conservation equipment. Highly Accredited. Fast Delivery. Leaders In Conservation.
Conclusion
These Ornamental Water Butts offer something a little different. Style. If you’re a stylish individual who has shied away from installing water butts because of their utilitarian appearance, or you’re pushed for space and don’t have room to hide a big, ugly black Dalek-looking tower in your garden, these (we think) are the perfect answer for you.
Not only do they look great and are certain to add visual appeal as a garden feature in their own right, they offer a lot of rainwater storage to help you keep your plants watered throughout the drier months.
Get more from Fresh Kit
If you like this post, please try our blog for more great content and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for more great posts from Fresh Kit.
Stay informed!
Join our newsletter and get a digest of posts delivered to your inbox to devour at your leisure, once every month or two.
