The pandemic and frequent government stay-at-home orders have led to Americans spending more time at home with their families. Experts point out an increasing homeowners' inclination towards gardening activities as families look for new ways to spend time together. The rise of the green thumbs fuels the demand for gardening supplies, including heavy-duty garden hoses.
A garden hose is a vital gardening tool. However, choosing the right fit for your home can be challenging. Your local nursery or store's gardening section may have rows of flexible water hoses of different lengths, materials, and strength.
With so many options available and minimal visible differences, it can be tempting to take off with the cheapest water hose on the shelf. However, the tiny differences significantly impact how long and how best the garden hose will serve you. Here are four tips to help you select the right heavy duty garden hose.
1. Flexibility
A gardener's hose ought to be flexible yet strong enough. Too flexible or lightweight materials may result in incessant kinks that will affect your gardening activities. While at the store, give the garden hose a 'kink-test.' Take the hose with both of your hands and try to bend it to a 'U-shape.' If the hose kinks immediately, it may not be worth your money. If the hose curves without kinking, it's probably an excellent garden hose.
2. Length
Garden hoses often come in 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-foot lengths. It can be tempting to get a longer hose that fits all gardening needs. However, longer hoses are more expensive, heavier to move, and require more storage space. Before heading out to the store, measure the farthest spigot's length and buy a heavy duty garden hose that is slightly longer.
Most urban gardens will require a 50-foot hose. If you require a longer flexible water hose than that, consider buying two and joining them whenever needed. That way, you aren't tugging a heavy hose all the time. However, if you need an extra-long hose, it is better to buy a long one than having multiple joints. For example, it's better to have one 100-foot hose instead of joining four 25-foot hoses together.
3. Material
Garden hose manufacturers use different materials for their products, affecting flexibility, strength, and durability. Common materials used are vinyl, rubber, and mesh-reinforced rubber or vinyl. Vinyl hoses are the cheapest and lightest, prone to cracking and kinking.
Rubber hoses are relatively durable and heavier than vinyl. Reinforced garden hoses are for heavy duty use. They incorporate a mesh layer between the vinyl or rubber, making them excellent options as commercial garden hoses. The heavy duty hose rarely splits or kinks and can withstand high water pressures.
4. Durability
A suitable water hose should stand up to all kinds of weather patterns, lasting between five and 10 years. Hoses come in 'light duty,' 'medium duty' and 'heavy duty' categories. While a lightweight hose may sound easy to maneuver, it may tag along with stressful kinking issues. Heavy duty hoses are your safest bet. They are made from reinforced material that will last you season after season.
Get the Right Hose Today
Garden hoses are vital gardening tools necessary for a lush yard and blossoming nursery. Consider the hose's frequency of use, purpose, and size alongside these four factors. If you are still confused about which hose to choose, reach out to our experts at Apex Hose.
