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What's a good height for a hose guide?

17 years ago

I am fed up with those short plastic hose guides and decided to make my own. I've been collecting glass insulators to use for the tops. I wanted to use copper pipe, but since prices are so high right now, I am planning on using PVC instead. The plan is to pound some rebar in the ground so the pipe has something to turn against. Then put on a 1" diameter piece of PVC pipe, a cap and then the insulator. I am going to do a faux finish on the pipe with Fusion paint for plastics.

So what do you think is an ideal height for a hose guide?

Image link: {{!gwi}}

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Comments (8)

breakdishes
17 years ago
I would think as close to the ground as possible, thats were mine always seems to hang up, aren't dragging hose a drag? lol I'm sure someone will help with an answer, good idea for the insulators,.
barefootin
17 years ago
I would make mine at least a foot tall..maybe even a foot and a half. I know sometimes my hose will jump over a 10 inch tall pot of hens and chicks I was using for a guide at the edge of a flower bed..broke a few of my african daisies. I am going to make some also, like you have described, next spring..I am making them a foot and a half tall. I think that will work best for me.

Sherrie
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I am trying rebar with tops and will let you know how it turns out. I found several wooden tool handles for cheap at a garage sale, and have bought 2 ft rebar in size that fits snugly into the hole in the tool handle (which I painted a dark green). I have also considered buying old tools, old crowbars, etc but have not found cheap enough. The trick in my yard seems to be getting something I can sink deep enough---into the rocky clay layer beneath the good soil--so they won't bend over when hose drags--and still have enough height for hose which may ride up a bit--which is why I am trying the 2-ft rebar. I plan to use some epoxy, but am still afraid the "tops" will pop off the rebar if the hose rides up.
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my ideal hose would be "cordless". Maybe some kind of a sending unit on the faucet that would "beam" the water over to me at the nozzle! ha ha ha Actually, the hose doesn't seem to matter, I just use a lot of those "hose guides" to keep the hose from killing what I'm trying to save. I have those things all over the yard, in all the corners of the flowerbeds. The best ones are the ones that look like pineapples that my hubby got me for christmas from Lowe's. They are cute, and work well, too.
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Interesting that more gardeners donÃ¢ÂÂt use these. I wonder if more people use drip irrigation and soaker hoses than I realized, and if that reduces the use of the hose? I did get a question that was in my mind answered. I had thought of changing to a taller guide so that people could see it more. Seems like some of you have done that and are happy with them. And you've come up with some creative solutions too. It also occurred to me that if I replaced my hose, I might be happier, but I still think I would need hose guides. Dee, the curvature does usually hold the hose and guide it and it sort of spins with the movement of the hose. You just have to position it to catch the little channel before you start yanking it. [g] Naturally, IÃ¢ÂÂd prefer the more decorative ones too, but just havenÃ¢ÂÂt gotten around to it. I absolutely like your ideal world situation. IÃ¢ÂÂve thought about doing something like that too. My yard is not that wide from the back of the house to the back lot line. I should really run a pipe out to the back border and that would keep me from pulling the hose all over the place. ButÃ¢ÂÂ¦youÃ¢ÂÂre right, lots more things to spend money on before that idea has a chance. :-) Thank you all for the taller versions of hose guide ideas. IÃ¢ÂÂm going to have to give that some serious thought.
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flowerstreet
17 years ago
I am tired of the short ones too, I made one 16" tall out of rebar, drainage pipe and an old metal bird feeder. the height is perfect, and it does rotate with the hose. i can post a pic if you're interested. i plan to make more like it as i get the materials gathered. I had a love-hate relationship with the hose this summer, never again!
Dottie B.
Original Author
17 years ago
16" sounds like the perfect height. I was looking at some online and they were pretty tall like that too. I think they will also be really nice to define some of my garden paths. I will probably get the pipe this weekend so I can get started painting them. Thanks for everyone's comments.

flowerstreet - I would love to see a pic. It sounds really cute.
layladog
16 years ago
I know it has been awhile for this post but I was wondering how they turned out? I have the insulators and am planning on doing the same thing but I'm not sure how to put it together. I was thinking of using something besides PVC, maybe steel or copper. I'd love to see the pictures on a final project.
surfin_sandy
16 years ago
I just got 3 insulators from hubby's granny's 'estate'. I was thinking the same idea for them, but didn't know how to actually put them together. Thanks!
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
Before i had the sprinkler system put in i made some using tent stakes and some propel water bottles to cover the stakes.Worked very well and they were blue,so an added bonus.
Kathi
Dottie B.
Original Author
16 years ago
layladog - They turned out really great. I am so glad I used the PVC and painted it copper using Fusion paint. We have had a rash of copper thefts in our area lately, and no one will want to steal PVC...LOL. We actually used the grey conduit, because it was even cheaper.

Here's a link to some of the ones I made.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hose Guide Pics

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