Warning: My cheap rain barrel caused a mosquito nightmare in just 10 days

I set up a $40 rain barrel from the hardware store in May thinking it was a no-brainer for my garden. After 10 days of hot weather, I lifted the lid and saw THOUSANDS of mosquito larvae swimming around in there. Turns out the screen on top had a tiny gap near the spout I never noticed. I spent the next 3 days dumping water, scrubbing it out, and sealing every seam with fine mesh. Anyone else had to retrofit their barrel because the bugs got in first?

2 comments

2 Comments

haydenj908d agoMost Upvoted

Did you cover the overflow hole too? I used to think a screen on top was enough, but this post makes me want to triple-check everything now.

richard_sanchez437d agoMost Upvoted

Taped my overflow hole up just to be safe, @haydenj90 lol.