by Grandma Gretchen

You can no more have a successful, lush garden or emerald-tinted lawn without the aid of a garden hose any more than you can make a cup of tea without a kettle. It’s a necessity and one that does deserve a bit of thought. You don’t want to just run about, picking up the cheapest hose you can find. Do it right the first time and you won’t have to be doing it again (good advice from my own mother).

Not all gardeners are as fortunate as I am to live in a relatively damp country. We do get our fair share of petal showers in England, and for that, our gardens have been the envy of visitors for hundreds upon hundreds of years. But, whether you live in Arizona, Alaska or Morocco, with a little homework and head-work, you can have the garden of your dreams.

There are many types of garden hoses available, but for the most part, they will easily fit into the four categories below:

Lightweight – This hose is perfect for most applications. Just as the name implies, this hose is lighter in weight than industrial type or estate-sized hoses and works just as well (although the life will be shorter due to lighter grade materials).

Typically manufactured of reinforced rubber and/or vinyl, these hoses will have a lower burst strength or PSI (pounds per square inch) rating than heavier-gauged hoses. PSI can range from 100 to 600+. Most homeowners will find that they won’t have enough water pressure to burst a hose anyway, but to be on the safe side, get the highest PSI you can afford in for your lightweight hose.

Heavy-Duty – Once again, the name belies the hose. Do you have a really big yard? Is gardening your absolute passion? Would you die if you couldn’t get out and work in your yard almost every single day? If so, you need a heavy-duty hose. Stronger, more durable and longer-lasting than your standard hose, this baby is for the serious gardener! It’s definitely not lightweight, but it will last. Get brass couplings and you may never have to replace it again! (Few people know, but it’s usually the couplings on a hose that go first). Always get brass couplings, no matter what the hose.

Coiling – This hose self-coils for ease of storage, but can be a tad unruly if not handled correctly. This hose is perfect for patios, balconies, small gardens and greenhouses. They take up a lot less space than standard hoses and need no help in coiling up; they virtually remember how to coil and just snap back as easy as you please. They can be less maneuverable, so take care around those delicate blooms.

Soaker – My personal favourite, the soaker hose saves water and saves labour (once you put it out, you leave it out, until winter) while also gently training plants to handle drought conditions. Perfect for flower or veggie gardens that need frequent watering, you merely lay the hose down along the bedding rows or loop around the plants or for a more natural appearance, place the hose about ½” below the surface of the soil. This is the most ideal way to water as less water is wasted in evaporation and plants are kept healthier by reducing soil borne illnesses spread by water drops.

Care and Storage

Today’s hose materials are exceptionally durable, but it still is a good idea to lay out some fundamental rules about hose care:

1. Try to keep hose out of the sun for extended periods of time. Just as the sun’s rays damage your skin, they also can damage the vinyl or rubber coating on the hose. You can pay for a hose that has actually been treated with a UV resistant coating for longer endurance, but in all cases, it’s best to keep the hose coiled up and out of the sun when not in use.
   
   
2. Avoid leaving the hose out during freezing temperatures. Before it gets too cold, drain all the water out of the hose and place indoors (or cover with a dark trash can liner). The drainage will prevent the hose from bursting should there be water left inside to expand when freezing.
   
   
3. There are almost as many storage options as there are hose options. There are attractive metal and plastic hose holders that easily attach to the side of your house, or terracotta pots specifically made to hold coiled hoses while adding an earthy, rustic look. You can also purchase hose reels and hose carts that take hose storage up to the next level of ease and convenience.

Copyright www.OutdoorDecor.com
Kay Stone, OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer