Every keen gardener knows how important a great garden hose is for keeping their lawn and plants healthy. Hoses are also useful for many other tasks like cleaning your car and washing your walls or patios. There are many different styles of garden hoses available in different colors and with different features. This can make it difficult to choose the right hose to fit all your needs.
To help you make the right choice, here is what to look for when buying a new garden hose.
1. Choose the Best Materials
The most commonly purchased garden hoses are vinyl or vinyl-reinforced hoses because they are cheap, light, and easy to use. Rubber hoses are also popular because they are more durable but they are also heavier. A reinforced hose will be more resilient to changes in temperature and are more unlikely to burst or kink. You may also want to consider a plastic hose because they are very light, flexible, and easy to store.
2. Find a Hose with a Quality Reel
There are various types of hose reels available such as portable reels and wall-mounted reels. Look out for a reel that has a retractable mechanism so that you can wind in the hose without having to use a hand crank. This will save you a lot of time and effort and will also ensure that there are no kinks in the hose as many reels rotate as they pull the hose in. You can also choose a reel that is self-contained in a box so that it is hidden away. There are reel boxes that look like birdhouses or other garden items so that they make interesting garden ornaments.
3. Check the Plies and Rating
Plies are layers and so the more plies the hose has, the stronger it will be. Hoses have between one and six plies so you have to decide how strong you need the hose to be. If you like to take a drink from your hosepipe when the sun is shining, make sure that you choose a hose that is labeled marine, boat, or recreational. These are the only hoses that have linings that are safe to drink from.
4. Make Sure the Hose Is Big Enough
Garden hoses come in different lengths and with different diameters. They come in measures of 25 feet so the majority are between 25 and 100 feet in length. If you have a particularly big garden then you will need a longer hose but it is important to note that the water pressure drops the longer the hose. If you need a longer hose than is available then you can attach two hoses together. You will also need to choose a hose with the right diameter. This can vary but most hoses have a standard diameter of 0.625 inches.
A garden hose is a very useful tool and can be used for so many different things. Choosing the right hose takes a little research but it is important to consider all of the factors in this article. If in doubt, ask the professionals in the hardware store which hose they would recommend.
