Seagull droppings in water butt

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by GaGa73, Jun 23, 2022.

  1. GaGa73

    GaGa73 Gardener

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    Hello,

    We have seagulls on our roof and they have just had 3 chicks so in total 5 and there's a load of droppings up there, thing is the rainwater from the side of the roof they are mainly on goes into our water butt, is it okay to use the water for the garden plants, house plants and veg patch etc?

    Thanks
     
  2. Jocko

    Jocko Guided by my better half.

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    Guano is a great fertilizer. Diluted in the water butt it will do no harm at all.
     
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    • GaGa73

      GaGa73 Gardener

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      Oh okay that's great news as I was worried I was killing my plants, I did read somewhere that water butt water isn't suitable for seedlings and young plants though, is this correct?
       
    • Jocko

      Jocko Guided by my better half.

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      I wouldn't have thought so. It is just rainwater and therefore better than chlorinated tap water. Unless you are tipping "grey" water into the water butt (water from washing dishes, washing machine, bath etc).
       
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      • Upsydaisy

        Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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        It should be fine @GaGa73 .

        I personally never use rainwater / water butt on seedlings or very young plants , I tend to introduce them to it while they are being hardened off prior to planting out.
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I think the reason they say to not use water from a butt on seedlings is that the water can contain fungal spores that can cause damping off.
        Can say I've ever bothered too much and tend to use butt water or sometimes room temperature tap water.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I use water from a butt caught off a roof all the time, even seedlings and young plants. I think rain water is safer/better/more natural than chlorinated from the mains. I do use rainwater carefully though and aim the water at the soil/base of plants, especially with salad crops. A bit of seagull poo would do the plants good.
           
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