Garden Hoses

A garden hose is an elastic pipe used to transfer water from the tap to other areas within your garden. The garden hose has been designed to resist water pressure, kinking, sunlight, and temperature changes. The garden hose has universal fittings that can be attached to outdoor water taps with other spray nozzle, sprinklers, and garden watering tools.

Hose Diameter & Length

  
Diameter Options - Generally, garden hoses are available in three diameters: 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, or 3/4 inch. Hoses that have a small diameter are lighter, easier to manage, but have low water carrying capacities. Hoses that are 5/8 inch are the best for managing both water volume and portability. Three-quarter inch hoses have a high water-carrying capacity, perfect for bigger gardens or filling a swimming pool.

Length Considerations – The length of the hose may vary between 25 feet and 100 feet or even longer. While the longer hose gives long reach, it will be heavier, more cumbersome to deal with, as well as expose to higher pressure. In fact, it would be even advantageous to make use of the shortest hose that can easily reach your garden.

Primary Uses

General Watering - Most preferred usage, which supplies water to flower gardens, vegetable gardens, lawns, and potted plants. Spray nozzles/wands can be connected for better control over water pressure and projection.

Sprinkler Systems - Set up oscillating sprinklers, rotary sprinklers, or fixed sprinklers on your hose to water large areas as you perform different tasks.

Drip Irrigation - Install soaker hoses or attach drip irrigation sets to standard hoses to provide water-saving, pinpoint watering while reducing evaporation and waste.

Cleaning Jobs - Garden hoses are absolutely essential for washing outdoor furniture, cleaning gardening tools, removing soil from boots, and cleaning up patios and driveway surfaces.

Filling Pools and Ponds - Whether it’s to fill up the kiddie pool in back or replenish the pond out front, hoses are great at filling up pools and ponds.

Washing Vehicles – Attach the corresponding nozzles for washing vehicles, boats, and outdoor machinery without ever leaving your premises.

Selecting the Right Hose 

Think about the size of garden you have when deciding on the length of the hose. You can measure the distance from the water tap to the area of the garden which is furthest from the water taps, and then add a little in between in case you have any obstruction in the way. If your garden is large, think about having water taps located in several places around the garden instead of having one very long hose.

Consider water pressure and flow rate. If your watering chores entail using multiple water sprays or refilling water containers, a hose with a larger diameter would be ideal for you. For tasks such as watering plants in containers by hand, using a smaller, lighter hose may be preferred.

Analyze your storage situation. For a smaller space, consider using an expandable or flat-style water hose for better compact storage compared to a standard cylindrical water hose. In addition, a wall-mounted hose reel or storage pot can help to maintain your hoses in an organized manner and also can extend their life by avoiding damage. Think about the climate in your region. If you garden throughout the year in areas with extreme temperatures, look for hoses that are suited for those temperatures. Cold flexibility is essential for hoses that are used in the winter months, while UV resistance is critical in warmer climates.