I am sure I am not the only one but I am out of luck regarding garden hoses... I am about to buy new ones and decided to check with you gardeners first ...
I got heavy duty hoses when I first started gardening 6 years ago... I hate how heavy they are and they get just hard to put away. Some are gone already... I have tryed the flat one... did not last... horrible experience actually. Last year I decided to buy the cheapest ones and just consider them "annuals" ... but of course some lasted and did ok and one will be going to the recycle place...

I got a good size garden so I have one for the right and left sides of my garden plus the back for the veggie garden... they need to be at least 75 feet long...

I have a sprinkler system but I don't like it because when I am watering the plants that's when I really get to see how my plants are doing and I get to kill aphids that way... so don't use the sprinkler... and in a way I feel like I use less water...

So give me your opinion please??? I just want to hear what you guys do and your solutions for this annoying situation!
Thanks

I'm the sprinkler system here.

I don't like the big heavy hoses, either. We've had the "good" heavy rubber ones- like you said, too hard to drag around. I buy the cheap, lightweight ones and replace them every few years.

The only long one I have is in the back yard- it's 125 feet. That's connected to my outdoor sink, which I love having. Under it is my self winding hose reel, a lifesaver for me.


http://www.no-crank.com/siteFi...

Karen

I like that Karen... will look into it.... thanks

Kassia, what I do is not particularly economical, but I HATE those cheap hoses that kink and fight you every step of the way. So I buy 25 ft rubber hoses and put quick connectors and shut off valves on them and just add what I need as I go around the garden. I leave the 25 ft segments stretched out where I know I'll need them and just shut off the water, add a new section, and keep on going.

Woofie, right now I have 2 brand new rubber hoses and they are so heavy! I got them last year and they are so pretty and red... I hate the kinks on the cheep ones also... so far I have never found a hose that does not kink ... given a chance they are horrible things!!!!

But I like your idea of leaving them stretched out...

I agree- the more expensive hoses far outlast the cheap ones, making them very economical. Cheap ones won't last us a season, whereas we've had more expensive ones for 5 years! And that's even with leaving them laying all over the place to bake in the TX sun, and getting run over, and every other abuse you can think of

DH bought some of those red ones, I think they're 100 ft long! I refuse to use them cause they're just too heavy! I prefer to use a 25 ft one and water everything it will reach, then add on another one and water as far is IT will reach....and so on. That way, I'm really only ever dealing with the weight of one 25 ft hose.

We need a 125' hose for the back yard, and I had the same experience. It was so hard to drag it to the back of the yard, and took me so long, I didn't have the will to water anymore.

I'd rather have the cheaper, easier ones, and replace more often. They usually last us 2 or 3 years.

Karen

Nope. Quick connectors and short sections for me. You don't even want to be around me if I have to deal with one of those crummy cheap hoses, especially when it kinks about 30 ft back from where I'm trying to water. snarl.

We buy our hoses from Costco, heavy duty vinyl, 100 feet for $30.00, at the back we have a hose cart and hand winder, at the front just a wall hanger. I do not like the cheap hoses, they may be lighter but the kinking drives me crazy, like woofie said, you have to keep going back to unkink the darn thing. I have the quick connectors also.

Did not know Costco had hoses! Gotta check that out; they usually have good quality stuff!

Yes, I always like the quality and if your not happy with it they take it back no problem. They have the hoses here every spring, plus a wide range of other gardening stuff. They have an organic planting mix that I really like also.

The worst hose I ever owned came from Costco which is very unusual. Most of their items are great. It was so bad I refunded it and told Costco about the experience. They are still selling them. I do not remember the brand name. My present hose is a kinker big time. Hoses seem to hate me.

If I recall correctly we have had to replace our Costco hoses once in 11 years.

I think it is a thing that hoses reserve for me Margaret. They just do not like me.

Maybe you don't treat them kindly, Linda!!!

They are lucky I do not treat them like they do me !

I also get the best quality I can, use quick connects and shut off valves. I use longer sections, 50-100' and "hide" the extensions in several locations around the yard. They stay there 3 seasons. I like black if I can find it because it's not so visible.

Costco's hoses are green.