What Kind of Garden Hose Do You Need? Advice for First Time Buyers

If you’ve never bought a garden hose before, you may think it’s an easy process – or you may find the whole process confusing. A walk down the aisle of the typical gardening or home improvement store will expose you to dozens of garden hoses in many different sizes, colors, configurations and materials. You may be tempted to just grab the nearest garden hose and head for the register, or conversely, you could end up walking up and down the aisle reading the garden hose labels and trying to figure out which is the best one for your needs. Neither approach is very productive. If you’re buying a garden hose for the first time, these things can make your life much easier – and ensure that you get a hose that will do what you need.

Figure Out Where Your Hose Needs to Reach

Think about the various ways you intend to use your garden hose Chances are that you’re looking for one right now because you need it for a specific purpose: washing your car, watering a garden or filling a pool are some of the most common reasons that people go out looking for a new garden hose for the first time. Consider where else you might want your hose to reach before you start shopping. It will help you buy a hose that’s long enough but not too long.

Measure the Distance from the Outdoor Faucet

Most people are notoriously inaccurate when they try to estimate distances. Instead of guessing, grab a tape measure and measure the distance from the outdoor faucet to the furthest distance your garden hose needs to reach. If you have several different uses in mind, measure the distance to each of them.

Don’t Buy a Longer Hose Than You Need

In some cases, it makes more sense to buy two shorter hoses than it does to buy one very long hose. If you’ll need 25-foot garden hose to reach your garden every day, for example, but your driveway is 50 feet away from the spigot, you’re probably better off buying a 25-foot hose for your gardening needs and a second 25-foot garden hose that you can attach to the first for extra length to reach your car in the driveway once a week or once a month.

Why would you buy two hoses instead of one 50-foot garden hose Long garden hoses can make your life more difficult. You’ll end up with lower water pressure and a lot more hose that can get twisted, kinked or bent. A 25-foot hose is also much easier to put away than a 50-foot garden hose.

Buy a Garden Hose Reel

Pay a little extra to get a high-quality garden hose A $30 hose will last years longer than a $10 bargain hose. While you’re at it, spring for a garden hose reel or jar to hold you hose when it’s not in use. It will last longer if it’s not in contact with the ground or laying around your lawn.

In addition to the basics, you may also find some particular features in garden hoses helpful. A drinking safe garden hose is a good idea if you intend to water vegetables or if you’ll be filling a pool for children who might swallow water, for example, and a one inch water hose is a great option if you need a lot of water pressure or want to fill a pool or a pond.