No More Kinky Hoses

Irrigation systems can certainly be helpful, however often it is more efficient, less frustrating, and even necessary to use the hose. You avoid the challenge of an irrigation system, improve personal garden experience, and garden more effectively. Many very nice gardens are maintained without an automatic system.
Automatic systems easily go out of adjustment in coverage of both area and volume. These systems should be thoroughly checked, re-adjusted, and reprogrammed on a regular basis. It is helpful in many situations, to supplement with the hose.
Too much water is not only wasteful, but encourages weeds, illness, and even death in the garden. Obviously, too little water and your plants could permanently pass the wilting point.     Don”t be afraid to multitask while handwatering. Stretch and peruse. When both hands are needed, one of many types of spray heads may assist, or the hose may be left to flood an area. Once water starts to overflow, go to another area, then return back again to the previously watered area for further penetration.    The need to be attentive when hand watering, causes us to follow and enjoy our gardens more. Watering only where and when needed develops drought tolerance. Careful watering also keeps water from running into the gutters and eventually polluting water resources down stream.
Watering less often, but more deeply, encourages deeper rooting and drought tolerance. Mulching and trimming also helps plants withstand drought. Our choice of plant material is an important consideration that helps decide how much water we need.
Some people resort to an automatic system because they don’t want to contend with a kinky hose. There are a couple of things to know that are very useful to keep ones hose from kinking. To un-kink a hose, pull it out completely. Twist and turn in the opposite direction that the hose is twisted and kinked into until it is completely straight,
To prevent kinks, leave a little pressure in the hose when pulling it in or stretching it out. Don’t leave this pressure in afterwards. During the heat of the day, your hose could burst.
Another tactic is to just leave the hose stretched out. Conceal it for aesthetic reasons and to keep it shaded for longevity. A pleasant way to stretch out a hose is to have it end just above or near a large bucket or pond. When the water drips slowly, birds are attracted. A nice bucket with a handful of goldfish (They eat mosquito larvae) and one or more water plants makes a special water feature for very little cost. The bucket can be handy and better to use for watering purposes especially on potted plants. Sitting water looses chlorine and so is favored.
New thin walled hoses that bounce back into tight coils are kink resistant. Like other hoses they have a stiffer rubber sleeve that protects them where they screw at the faucet and are the most vulnerable to getting kinky.
Remember hoses are coiled for packaging purposes and for tidiness, but after aesthetics are considered, they do not necessarily need to be coiled at your home garden. Don’t let your hose get kinky, and you will have a lasting and pleasant experience.
The version “No more kinked hoses” was published in Orange County Home on July 2002