Back-friendly garden hoses

14 years ago

I'm looking for a garden hose that is durable and doesn't require amazon strength to pull around the yard.

My mom had a major sciatic episode this week that required calling 9-1-1 and a trip to the ER. She's home and improving, but with the hot weather just starting she'll soon be out there wrestling with the garden hoses again. I live 45 minutes away and work full time, so I can't come by every day to water for her ---- nor will she want me to (she is otherwise very strong, self-sufficient, and independent).

I'd like to replace each hose with another type that's back-friendly and durable and easy for her to use.

I was planning to go to Armstrong Nursery ---- her suggestion ---- and ask them for a recommendation.

Can anyone recommend a back-friendly hose for her, and any brands or types to avoid?

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Comments (14)

gobluedjm 9/18 CA
14 years ago
I would say avoid anything cheap cuz they kink. The heavier ones don't kink as much, but they are heavy.
I have a kink free Gilmor, it only kinks when really caught on something.
You might look into the coiled ones. They are very lightweight, but I've only seen them in half inch. I have no problem in pulling it around and doesn't kink. No winding it back up, just store it in a pot or basket.
hosenemesis
14 years ago
Hoses are evil. All hoses.

If you find anything, please report back.

I dream of back-friendly, non-kinking, non-tripping or catching hoses that are up on pulley systems over my head like the Monorail at Disneyland. Reach up and pull down a hose wherever you need it. Good luck.
Renee
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akarinz
14 years ago
The garden hose at Gardener's Supply might be what you are looking for.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lightweight Garden Hose
socks
14 years ago
Would it be possible to set up some soakers or sprinklers for her that she could just leave attached and turn on? Or maybe haul out a shorter hose to the soakers and turn it on? Or even leave the hoses stretched out (not roll them up or whatever) as neatly as possible?

Akarinz's lightweight hose looks good, if a little pricey, but it might be worth it to keep Mom watering.
hosenemesis
14 years ago
Akarinz, thanks for the link on the hose. I'm buying it for DH's birthday in August. :)
akarinz
14 years ago
hosenemesis - let me know how you guys like it.

Karin
lilydude
14 years ago
Make sure the spigot is off and the hose is drained of water before you try to move it. If it's a long hose, pick it up in the middle and move that part first, and then pick up the end and move it. You can also replace a long hose with two short hoses. Separate the hoses and move one, then move the other, then reconnect them. It seems like it's always a tradeoff between time and brute force. The more time you are willing to spend, the less brute force it should take.

Of course, the ultimate is to run underground lines and place spigots in each corner of the yard.
hosenemesis
14 years ago
Hi all,
Mikey got the hose for his birthday from Gardener's Supply (every girl should have a Mikey). I love it. Not only is it lightweight, it is slick, so it doesn't get caught up on pots. It's so easy to drag around that I retired a hose about 30 feet away- I can drag this one over there with no problem. It is a nice color-moss- that blends into the landscape, unlike the aqua or teal blue hoses I am used to using. I really love it. The only drawback is that the water flow is a bit reduced, but less than I expected.

Thanks Karin, for the tip. I will let everyone know if it starts to kink up and give me trouble.

Renee
tressa
14 years ago
My DH bought me a garden hose on an automatic reel. It will probably be easier to pull from the reel,and it will automaticlly wind the hose back up when finished.

He hasn't set it up yet, however, so I'm not sure how it will work. It is from Home Depot.
Bob_B
14 years ago
Jenn,

I can heartily recommend a garden hose by the brand name, "Soft and Supple." I do not know if they are still marketed, but they are very well made, are always supple even in cold weather, and last a long time. I have been using mine for 12 or thirteen years, although admittedly they are getting old at this point. Of course, they cost more, but the extra cost is worth every penny.

RB
Min3 South S.F. Bay CA
14 years ago
renee - i just got one of those lightweight hoses too, moss colored, and i love it so far. the raccoons punctured two of my heavy hoses and i was furious but now i am glad. i think this lightweight one will be very worth the cost because its so easy to pull around and very easy to hang up high (with one hand!) when i am done. (ha ha raccoons!)

the only drawback i have found so far is that it can't push the water the whole length of my long soaker hose.
min
emtnest
14 years ago
Min,
Why would racoons puncture hoses? I've never heard of such a thing.. nasty beasties they are...
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
Racoons love water. Sometimes they chew up my drip hoses, which water at night when the Racoons are active. I cannot use fish emulsion fertilizer as it drives them wild and they will dig up any plant I use it on. They even went into my garden shed and chewed up the plastic bottle of fish emulsion. I just found a manual hose reel at a garage sale and it works well, but my hose it too heavy, so I will look into those mentioned. Al
Min3 South S.F. Bay CA
14 years ago
emtnest- the hoses "my" raccoons bit holes in were the ones that were only turned off at the nozzle at night and were full of water - they left the empty ones alone. obviously i don't leave any hoses full up like that anymore.

its good to know that about fish emulsion, al.
thanks. min

Back-friendly garden hoses

Comments (14)

gobluedjm 9/18 CA

hosenemesis

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