What type of flexible garden hoses should I buy? This is a question perplexing many homeowners. A garden hose is an important amenity to any home, especially for those homeowners who have a “green thumb.” Here we’ll look at some tips for choosing a hose and how to fix and house flexible garden hoses.
How To Choose A Garden Hose
- Buy a double-layered hose. Single-layered hoses crack and break much too easily.
- Multi-layered PVC flexible garden hoses are a good choice. This hose will give you protection against heat, cold and the sun’s damaging UV rays.
- Unless you need high water pressure, and a pump to achieve higher pressure, do not buy a hose made for water pressure more than 73 psi (pounds per square inch). This is the norm in most municipalities. In other words, buy a hose made for normal water pressure.
- If you have low water pressure, on the other hand, select a hose with a smaller diameter. Under normal usage, a one-half inch flexible garden hose should not be longer than 50 feet. For higher water pressures, choose larger diameter hose sizes. Typical garden hose sizes are one-half, three-quarters, and one-inch diameters. Note: It is recommended to use a soaker hose no more than 100 feet long for typical landscaping watering purposes.
What To Do When Your Hose Breaks
Hoses break for many reasons. They are old, have been left out in the elements, are single-layered and therefore not strong among other reasons: your dog chews on your garden hoses. Here are some ways to fix a broken hose.
If your hose is pierced through:
- Disconnect the hose from the spigot and drain the residual water
- Use a length of duct tape that is long enough to wrap around the diameter of the hose two to three times. Duct tape over the hole.
If your hose ruptures or bursts, you can cut off the hose off just below and above that ruptured point and use a hose clamp to connect the separated hoses together.
How To Store A Garden Hose
There are a few good ways to store your garden hoses when you are not using them.
- Place your flexible garden hoses not in use in a storage shed, if you have one.
- Purchase a hose reel for each garden hose. Use the reel to keep the hose wound in between uses. This will save space and protect the hose.
- Use a mobile cart to store your hoses. This gives you the convenience of bringing the hose to where your watering needs are and you can move the mobile garden hose reel to a shed, your garage or other protected area when not in use.
Use these helpful tips for buying, fixing, and storing your garden hoses. Remember to protect your garden hose from sun exposure and other adverse elements by storing it when it’s not in use. Some people even build shelters to “house” their garden hoses. Often the housing is built around the hose reel next to a water spigot.
Whatever your watering needs, choose the best hose.
