We’re well into gardening season throughout most of the United States. How is your garden hose
holding up? If you’ve been following the best practices for taking care
of your hose, chances are it’s in pretty good shape. If you end up
replacing your gardening hose more often than every five years or so,
you’re spending too much money. These tips can help you take care of
your garden hose to prolong its life and save yourself some money.
Buy a High Quality Hose from the Start
A
better quality garden hose will stand up to the rigors of daily use far
better than a cheap, thin hose. Expect to pay $30 to $50 for a good
hose for your gardening and outdoor work. In addition to lasing longer,
it will perform better than a cheaper hose. Choose one with solid brass
fitting that won’t crush out of shape if you step on it or a car runs
over it.
Choose the Right Size Garden Hose
The best size
hose for most gardening needs is either a 1/2 inch garden hose or a 3/4
inch garden hose, both of which will deliver water at good pressure and
flow without overpowering your plants with high pressure. As far as
length goes, choose a garden hose that’s long enough to reach where you
need to go but not so long that you end up with lots of extra length
that can fold, kink and trip you up.
Drain Your Hose Every Time You Use It
Excess
water inside the garden hose contributes to decay, corrosion and
bacterial growth. One of the easiest ways to drain the hose is to coil
it over your shoulder and let water drain as you roll it.
Get It Out of the Sun
Obviously,
you’ll be using your garden hose in the sun, but don’t leave it sitting
out in the sun when it’s not in use. UV rays weaken the material and
make your hose more prone to damage. After use, get your hose out of the
sun and store it in a shady, cool area if possible.
Coil Your Hose After Each Use
The easiest way to store your hose out of the sun is to roll it up on a garden hose reel after each use. Garden hose reels offer other benefits as well: they’ll keep your hose off the ground where it can be damaged (or trip you up) and look a lot neater. You can even choose garden hose reels on wheels that you can easily move to wherever you need.
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