How could I use a gutter system that sends rainwater to plants instead of out on to the streets?

Question

I live in Tucson,Arizona by the way,and monsoon season here tends to be uneven around where I live!

Answer 1

You may want to look into a rain water collection system. It can be as easy as a few large barrels sitting under your down spout or a large submerged tank. You can also slope your driveway or walkway to divert water back onto your property instead of the street. You can use French drains to give the water a place to go while it is absorbed into the ground.

Answer 2

A cistern has been used for 1000's of years.

Catch your downspouts in a barrel, or several barrels.  

I siphon the overflow into a pond, which I use to water plants.

Answer 3

My folks had a homemade system when I was growing up - they ran spouts from the gutters into ordinary trash cans then use simple siphon hoses to water the garden.

To get better design ideas watch Renovation Nation on Planet Green.

There are some really great professional looking tank systems out there and they don't have to be ugly. I just saw one that was a big wood plank design and looked like part of the house. It had a spigot system so you could hook up a hose, drip, or soaker lines.

Depending on your home you could also route gutters to a suspended system of either gutter material with holes or drip lines above your garden.

Answer 4

Some times the old ways are best. Use a rain barrel. shorten your gutter's down spout to route water into a 55 gal drum. Siphon the water out using a garden hose or install a valve in the bottom edge of the barrel so you can s***w on a hose.