The right garden hose is a must-have for your lawn and garden. Choose from a wide range of garden hose for sale to suit your needs.
A polyurethane or rubber hybrid hose is lighter and more kink resistant than vinyl ones. If you want a hose safe to drink from, select one that’s NSF-listed so it doesn’t leach chemicals into your water.
Durability
A hose’s ability to withstand wear and tear is one of the most important qualities when it comes to selecting the right model. Testers dragged hoses over rocks and through a garden rake with tines turned up, as well as around three large planters. They also coiled and uncoiled them multiple times to see how easily they went back into a tight coil.
Look for a hose that doesn’t kink and is lightweight. Hoses made from polyurethane or a rubber-like hybrid are lighter than vinyl hoses and more flexible. They also don’t have the coil memory of traditional hoses, making them more resistant to kinking. A hose that’s labeled “drinking water safe” is a good choice if you plan on using it to water your yard or garden, as this type of hose is free from chemicals that could leach into your vegetables and other crops.
Other features to consider include the length of the hose and its spigot fittings. Hoses with brass or aluminum fittings last longer than plastic ones. You can also find hoses with quick-connect push-type fittings that make it easier to connect and disconnect.
Material
A water hose has multiple layers that work together to provide strength, durability and flexibility. The innermost layer, known as the core, transports water. The outermost layer, or jacket, gives the hose its appearance and offers abrasion resistance. The hose jacket is often made from vinyl or other durable materials. It can also contain mesh, which offers added strength and abrasion resistance.
The middle layer, which is typically a nontoxic rubber or plastic, helps the hose keep its shape and resist kinks. The middle layer may be reinforced with woven fibers or mesh. Some hoses are even reinforced with metal filaments.
Other features that can be found on a garden hose include a coiled design, NeverKink technology to prevent tangling and drinking-water safe hoses for gardens or boats and trailers. Some hoses have multiple ports that allow for multiple accessories like nozzles, sprinklers or sprayers. Others are built for specific uses, like the fire hose that delivers water to a fire truck.
Flow Rate
The flow rate of a garden hose is determined by three factors: the hose diameter, water pressure, and the hose length. For instance, a hose with a larger diameter allows for higher water volume but at the expense of lower water pressure. Moreover, the longer a hose is, the more it reduces its flow rate.
The best way to determine a hose’s flow rate is to use a 5-gallon bucket and a stopwatch. Place the hose end in the bucket, turn on the faucet, and time how long it takes to fill the bucket. You can then use this data to calculate the hose’s GPM.
A water hose with a high GPM is ideal for saturating the soil quickly and eliminating standing water, which can damage your plants. It also minimizes the amount of time you spend watering your garden on a daily basis. In addition, a high-flow garden hose is easier to move and store.
Storage
When it comes to storing your water hose, there are several options. You could purchase a metal hose stand that stakes into the ground and holds it up at head height. Then, when you’re ready to use it, you just hook it onto the holder and it is easily accessible. These stands come in a variety of colors and are able to withstand weather problems and wild temperatures much better than plastic hose storage.
If you’re looking for a more subtle solution, check out the aesthetically-pleasing hideaway reel that is capable of winding your hose up into itself without the fuss. This is ideal if you have a small yard and do not want to see a pile of hoses along the exterior of your property. You can also repurpose an old laundry drum to hold your hose and give it a unique look that will fit into any eclectic garden. Alternatively, a simple repurposed tire rim is another great way to keep your hose organized and out of the way.
