A garden hose may seem like a simple purchase, but there are some things to look for when buying one

You might never have really given your garden hose much thought but considering how much you'll use it in your vegetable garden, it is an important tool. How you store it, probably on some kind of garden hose reels, can make a difference too. If you have to fight with your garden hose or garden hose reels every time you go to water your garden, you'll probably start to avoid doing it.

When you're buying a new garden hose, there are a few things you should be familiar with. The first is the material the hose is made from. Garden hoses can be made from vinyl or from rubber. Vinyl hoses are less expensive and lighter, but rubber hoses are more durable. Vinyl hoses are often difficult to coil and store. If you use garden hose reels, this may not matter as much.

If half of your garden hose never gets unwound from its garden hose reels, you might want to get a shorter hose.

A garden hose comes in different lengths, usually from 25 to 100 feet. As a hose gets longer, the water pressure gets lower. Ideally, you want to buy a hose that is long enough to reach where you need it, but not any longer. If you occasionally need a longer hose, you're better off to buy two shorter ones and attach them together when needed. Take a look at your garden layout before you buy your hose so you have an idea of what length you'll need. Using mobile garden hose reels can also help reach the outer edges of your garden.

They're not glamorous, but your garden hose and garden hose reels are one of the most used gardening tools in your vegetable garden. Don't just buy the cheapest - look for the best value. Take a look at our garden accessories page for some recommended online gardening stores.

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