How to Figure Out Which Garden Hose You Need

Who knew that garden hoses were so popular? If you watch television at all, you can’t help but notice the number of new garden hose advances that have been advertised over the past year or two. There are constant commercials for a coil garden hose – perfect for gardening on patios and in small yards – and expandable hoses, as well as for heated garden hose and soaker hoses that irrigate your lawn without wasting water in the air. That’s a lot of choices – and it’s not even taking into account the many different lengths and diameters and materials you can choose from when you’re picking out a new garden hose. If you’re buying a garden hose for the first time or replacing one that’s worn past being useful, these tips can help you choose the right kind of hose for your needs.

How Long Should Your Garden Hose Be?

It’s tempting to buy the longest garden hose you can afford, but that’s not the best idea. In general, you should buy a garden hose that’s long enough to reach the places where you use it most often and no longer. Extra length can get tangled and reduce the water pressure at the business end of the hose. What if you usually only need a 25-foot hose to reach the garden, but once in a while you need to reach the driveway that’s 50 feet away? Buy two 25-foot hoses, suggest experts. You can hook them together when you need the extra length and you won’t be tripping over it when you don’t need the longer garden hose.

What Diameter Garden Hose Should You Choose?

Most homeowners choose a 1/2 inch garden hose or 3/4 inch garden hose for common household maintenance and gardening tasks. If you need a longer hose to reach your garden or higher water pressure, opt for the wider diameter – the higher the diameter, the more water can be delivered at once. If you intend to use your garden hose for pressure washing or to water livestock, you might opt for a one inch water hose, which will make the tasks move more quickly.

Are There Special Features to Consider?

Will you be watering a vegetable garden with your garden hose or providing drinking water from it? Choose a drinking safe garden hose to avoid leaching lead and other hazardous chemicals into your water. Do you need to use the garden hose throughout the colder seasons of the year? Consider a heated garden hose, which will keep the water flowing even when the temperature drops below freezing.

Choosing the right garden hose can make your maintenance and gardening tasks considerably easier. Before you head off to the nearest home improvement store, take stock of your needs so that you buy the right hose for your needs.

When to Replace Your Garden Hose

Is your garden hose still holding up to the job you need it to do? If you’re like most gardeners, you keep your garden hose for years, long past the time it’s ready to be replaced. Does your hose leak, kink or make your life difficult in the garden and yard? A new garden hose could be the answer to your problems. If your garden hose is more than five years old, it may be time to think about replacing it with a new model.

What’s New in Garden Hoses?

Garden hoses are relatively low-tech in the world of garden accessories so it may surprise you to find out that there have been a number of advances that make today’s garden hoses safer and easier to use than the one that’s hooked up to your outdoor faucet today. These are a few of the advances and advantages you should look for when replacing your old garden hose.

Safer Materials

A recent study by a major consumer safety group found that nearly every one of the garden hoses they tested leaked some quantity of lead and other unsafe chemicals into the water that ran through them. Lead can cause major neurological and physical problems if it is ingested, especially by children. If you water edible plants with your garden hose fill a children’s pool with water from it or if you or your children drink from the garden hose on a hot day, look for a drinking safe garden hose. Originally developed for use in RVs and other applications that would be delivering potable water, they’re now available for general use. You can easily buy a 50-foot 1/2 inch garden hose or 3/4 inch garden hose in any home improvement store or department store.

More Convenient Storage

Do you garden on your patio or another small or enclosed space? A standard garden hose can be difficult to maneuver in close quarters, and even more difficult to store. A coil garden hose is designed for use in small, enclosed spaces like patios and decks. Unlike a standard garden hose a coil garden hose compresses itself into a coiled spring. When it’s coiled, the hose takes up little space but it can be extended to more than twice its coiled length when you’re using it. You won’t even need a garden hose reel to keep it neat and tidy.

In addition to these two innovations in garden hose technology, you can also buy garden hoses that expand when you use them, high-volume garden hoses like a one inch water hose or a heated garden hose that you can use outdoors throughout the coldest months.

If your garden hose is ready for a replacement, do some research and find the best options to replace your old, worn-out hose. If you choose well, you’ll get years of service from it.