Garden hose for watering: 7 tips for choosing

In the store: green, black, yellow

Lightweight, seemingly weightless models stand out among them. There are heavy ones. You can immediately determine the durability of the product at a glance, which will last for several years, and which will fit for a couple of seasons. To care for your plants, you need the pressure-resistant head of your pump.

All technical parameters are indicated on the label for the hose. Managers often duplicate information on the price tag, the buyer immediately sees the main parameters. Not all hoses are packaged; sellers unwind the required amount from special equipment.

What should be on the label:

• diameter, measured in inches;
• working pressure, the higher the pressure of the irrigation hose withstands, the more powerful the injection technique is used;
• Wall thickness;
• material of manufacture;
• the presence of reinforcement;
• temperature regime of operation, not everyone can work in subzero temperatures;
• lifetime.

We will dwell on some parameters in detail and find out whether the inner or outer diameter is indicated on the label and what reinforcement is.

New trend: silicone hoses

This newfangled model is worth talking about separately. Silicone hoses have appeared relatively recently in construction markets and in stores. Therefore, few gardeners are still deciding to purchase it.

This hose is produced in two variations: reinforced and unreinforced. Budget models do not have a reinforcing mesh, which is why they are much lighter.

Silicone hose

The advantages of the silicone hose are as follows:

• flexibility;
• the convenience of use;
• stretches well;
• does not form creases.

Of the shortcomings of the model, perhaps the high price is worth noting. The principle of operation is also not very complicated. Simply slide the hose onto the fitting or sprinkler.

Consumer feedback on the silicone hose is much more positive than on the previous model. The main negative point is the bursting of the hose. You can eliminate this oversight by using reinforced products. Their service life reaches from three to five years.

Irrigation hoses: which are the best to choose by type?

Depending on the version, the hoses can be:

• single-layer;
• multilayer;
• reinforced;
• stretchable;
• corrugated.

Among the variety of hoses on the market, you should choose based on the purpose and conditions of use.

The thinnest products with low strength are single-layer hoses. The material does not have additional internal and external coatings, has low resistance to temperature extremes and high pressure, does not show resistance to aggressive environmental factors. It can be used and stored only at a positive temperature not exceeding 35ºC. It is mainly used when pouring water from a large container into a bucket.

Multilayer products are robust, durable, flexible, resistant to ultraviolet radiation, chemicals, high temperatures and high operating pressures. Such a hose is characterized by good flow capacity without affecting its integrity, as a result of which it can be used around the clock for watering garden crops. Thanks to its flexible and elastic structure, it can be easily rolled into a coil without deformation.

Stretchable hose for irrigation has a two-layer "hose-in-hose" design.The inner layer is made of rubber rubber, which has a high tensile capacity. The outer hose is made of nylon threads to limit the stretching of the inner layer. The material is characterized by increased wear resistance and resistance to dirt. The hose is used for irrigation of flower beds and ornamental plants with constant water pressure. Due to the fact that the product has a light weight and unusual design, it is possible to quickly and easily prepare it for work and put it away for storage. You can buy an expandable irrigation hose from 1450 rubles. for 15 m.

The expandable hose is used for irrigation with a constant water pressure

The spiral garden irrigation hose is made of polyurethane or EVA. Designed for a working pressure of no more than 5 atmospheres. It can be used in the temperature range from -5 to 50ºC. When inoperative, a meter-long self-expanding irrigation hose increases to 25-30 m. The spiral design prevents the appearance of cracks on the product, which, due to its light weight, moves freely along the garden bed. Serves for spot manual irrigation of crops, as a result of which it is often used in small garden plots where planting needs regular irrigation. You can buy a self-expanding 30 meter irrigation hose for 2200 rubles.

A universal product that is used for all types of soil moistening is a corrugated water hose. The product is characterized by strength, flexibility and lightness. The corrugated top layer gives the hose a stiffness so that it resists frequent bends. You can buy the product for 70 rubles / m.

Reinforced water hose: product features

The strongest and most durable of all types is considered to be a reinforced hose. During the manufacturing process, a mesh layer of strong polymer thread or steel is laid inside the material. Reinforcement can be one- and two-layer. The hose is designed for high working pressure and can be used in harsh conditions with high loads, which is determined by the size of the site and the characteristics of the garden. The strongest are multi-layer reinforced hoses that can withstand pressures up to 40 bar.

Reinforced hoses are considered the strongest and most durable

Based on numerous reviews of experienced gardeners, the most practical and convenient is a reinforced rubber hose for water, which is equipped with a thread braid. Such a product, with proper use, can last for about 20 years. The cost of the hose is 50 rubles / m.

No less durable, but environmentally friendly are PVC or silicone products with mesh or cruciform braiding. You can buy a silicone reinforced hose for an average of 60 rubles / m.

How to choose a garden hose

The choice of model depends on the conditions on the site. A few important points:

• If the source of water is a well or borehole, it is better to buy an intake hose from a store. It is often available with reinforcement. For a centralized water supply, use a conventional irrigation product.
• The more layers a model has, the more it is adapted to adverse weather conditions and pressure surges.
• The standard garden hose diameter is ½ in. (13 mm). For a small garden or vegetable garden, this value is enough. There are samples with a diameter of 16, 19 and 25 mm.
• What are the best hoses for quality irrigation? Reinforced rubber product with 3-4 inner layers is becoming more and more popular. Its cost is high, but the expenses pay off over the years. However, if the water pressure is very low, it makes sense to consider buying an oozing irrigation model.
• A single-layer product withstands a pressure of 2 bar, a reinforced multi-layer product - 5-6 bar. The water pressure in the garden rarely exceeds 5 bar.
• In a transparent product without reflectors, the walls quickly become overgrown with algae, which is then difficult to get rid of.

What is the best to buy hoses for irrigation by material?

Depending on the material of manufacture, the following types of hoses are distinguished:

• rubber;
• silicone;
• PVC;
• thermoplastic;
• nylon.

PVC hose is a popular choice when an economical solution is needed

The most popular is the rubber hose. The material is characterized by high strength, elasticity, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, temperature extremes (from -30 to 90ºC), chemicals, deformations, and has an affordable cost. The product is designed for a pressure range from 1 to 10 atmospheres. The hose can be stored in unheated rooms.

However, the rubber product is heavy, which makes it difficult to move it from place to place. The material is toxic and should not be used for drinking water. You can buy a rubber hose for irrigation from 50 rubles / m.

The nylon hose deserves due attention. Due to the fact that the material is lightweight, the product can be easily moved while watering. Also, the nylon hose has good flexibility and strength, which allows you to twist the product without violating the integrity of its structure. However, the hose is unstable to temperature changes and sudden changes in pressure, so its service life is no more than 2 years.

Nylon hose is highly flexible, lightweight and durable

The most reliable and durable product is thermoplastic elastomer, which can be used year-round for any horticultural purposes. The material can withstand temperatures from -50 to 90 ° C and pressures of 8 atmospheres or more. Such a hose is frost-resistant, UV-resistant, chemical resistant and can be stored in an unheated room. It has increased flexibility, strength and light weight, thanks to which it rolls easily and quickly, while maintaining the integrity of the material. The service life of the product is at least 15 years. You can buy such a hose for high pressure water from 80 rubles / m.

Which irrigation hose should you choose: silicone or PVC?

The most budgetary and affordable option is a PVC hose

When choosing such a product, you should pay close attention to the number of layers of material, since this factor affects its service life. Single layer PVC hoses deform quickly

Their service life is no more than 1 year. High-quality and durable is a reinforced irrigation hose, which is a multi-layer product equipped with a special insert that reinforces the structure of the material. Such hoses are resistant to pressure and temperature changes, which does not affect the structure of the product.

PVC hoses are designed for pressures from 3 atmospheres. The wall thickness of the product is in the range of 1.5-3 mm. The product provides a higher water pressure in comparison with its rubber counterpart. However, at low temperatures, its plasticity decreases, due to which it bends, deforms and twists. This hose must not be stored at temperatures below -5ºC. With proper storage and proper use, the product can last for at least 3 years. The price of a hose for irrigation starts from 30 rubles / m.

If you choose a PVC hose, then it is better to give preference to a reinforced

Silicone irrigation hoses are very popular in horticulture, which are characterized by elasticity and affordable cost. The hose can withstand temperatures from -20 to 40ºC. However, due to the fact that the walls of the product expand in the sun, it should not be left under the influence of sunlight, as this can lead to a violation of the integrity of the product.

The hose does not bend, making it easy to twist. However, it can burst with a high head, which is why it should not be connected to a sprinkler system or sprinklers. This hose is best used for gravity irrigation. You can buy a product from 30 rubles / m.

Garden hose type

In the previous point, we mentioned that a garden hose can be made in different ways and have different wall thicknesses. Let's consider in more detail the possible options:

• Single layer hose - rare but still available on the market. It does not have any additional coatings for the inner or outer walls. In this regard, its resistance to external influences of the environment or various reagents practically tends to zero. Because of this, its service life is very limited. You can store such a product only in rooms with a positive temperature inside, but not exceeding + 40 ° C. Only its low cost can attract. It will be convenient to use such a hose when pouring water from one container into smaller ones.
• Multi-layer hose provides stable UV and chemical resistance. The increased wall thickness ensures its wear resistance and a longer service life. Thanks to its good flexibility, multilayer hoses are kink resistant. They have a high flow capacity and are able to provide a stable water pressure even under high pressure. These hoses are ideal for daily watering jobs. They can be stored in a wider temperature range both rolled into a special bay and left on the beds for the whole season.
• Reinforced hose usually has a multi-layer structure. A special reinforced fiber spacer is located between the layers. This makes it possible to use such hoses under more severe conditions under higher loads. This is true in large areas that need regular watering. Many summer residents claim that reinforced PVC or rubber hoses are the most durable and strong, and they recommend using them. Due to the thickened structure, the weight of the product also increases, which must also be taken into account if older people use it.
• The expandable hose is a hose-in-hose design. Now the popular name for this type of product has become "Xhose". The inner element is made of rubber rubber, which has tremendous tensile properties. To make it convenient to use, the outer layer is made of nylon threads, which limit the degree of stretching of the rubber hose at the right time. Thanks to the nylon coating, the hose is practically free from dirt, easy to clean and has increased wear resistance. It is most suitable for watering decorative flower beds and delicate plants or for cleaning the area with a constant pressure of water. This is true for well-equipped country cottages. In the absence of good pressure, which is often found in summer cottages, you may not get the expected effect. Uneven ground can be another obstacle, making it difficult to stretch and re-assemble the hose. The self-expanding hose is very light in weight and quickly crumples to a compact size, making it very convenient to store.
• The spiral hose is very light and compact and is gaining popularity among experienced gardeners. It is made from polyurethane or ethyl vinyl acetate. Able to withstand working pressure up to 5 atm. Its feature is a high degree of elongation due to the spiral manufacturing method. So, a folded meter-long hose can stretch to a length of 20-25 meters, while retaining all its positive qualities. Such a hose does not kink or drag along the ground, crushing plants in its path. With its help, it is very convenient to carry out manual spot irrigation in small areas. The spiral hose can be operated at temperatures from -5 ° C to + 60 ° C.
• The corrugated hose has a distinctive feature - its top layer is made in the form of corrugation, which helps to prevent the formation of kinks and kinks. Also, corrugated products have increased rigidity, which increases its operational life. At the same time, the product retains its light weight and a sufficient indicator of flexibility. Its scope is universal, such a design is suitable for any kind of irrigation work.

1. The principle of operation and advantages of the drip irrigation system

The drip irrigation system can be used to moisten the soil both in greenhouses and in open areas. The principle of its operation is very simple - purifying filters and outlet pipes are connected to the water source, which are located along the entire length of the beds, and through special holes along the entire length of the hose, water evenly flows to the roots of the plants. The source of water can be a central water supply system, a well or a well that is equipped with a pump, a storage tank, or a reservoir that is located near your site.

special drip tape

When water is supplied by gravity, the flow rate will be less. You need to know this in order not to make one of the most common mistakes of many who first undertake the installation of a system with their own hands. If you realize that you cannot provide the required pressure or the use of a pump on your site is not technically feasible, in any case do not assume that the watering time will be the same as if the requirements were met. It may take you half a day to moisten the soil to the required depth, but the plants will receive water constantly.

With drip irrigation, crops are not threatened with sunburn even at lunchtime, because their stems and leaves remain completely dry. Watering can begin early in the morning and end in the late afternoon without the slightest harm to plants. And if the system is additionally equipped with a timer, a pair of sensors (for example, a rain sensor and a soil moisture sensor), then your presence on the site is not at all necessary. The timer will either turn on and off the water supply at a specified time, or do it as needed. This will be signaled by humidity sensors. And if it suddenly rains while watering, the system will react and turn off the water supply.

An important condition for the normal operation of the system is the use of cleaning filters. Process water has a lot of impurities and small debris that quickly clog holes. In this case, the hoses will need to be cleaned very often.

Why is drip irrigation good:

• Due to the fact that water gets as close to the roots as possible, the evaporation coefficient is practically absent;
• Economical water consumption;
• Uniform watering;
• The ability to adjust the intensity of watering for each group of plants individually;
• Saving your personal time and effort;
• Free access of oxygen to the rhizomes;
• No heavy airtight crust on the ground surface;
• The costs associated with the purchase of polyethylene pipes, drip hoses and all kinds of connecting elements will pay off very quickly, because the service life of such a system reaches 10 years;
• In the cold season, the system is easy to dismantle;
• Thanks to the flexibility of the hoses, they fold up compactly and take up little storage space;
• Watering with cold water is stressful for plants, which can slow down their growth. This often happens when watering with a hose directly from a water source. With drip irrigation, the water has time to warm up to ambient temperature while it is inside the hose. Such conditions are most favorable for plants, and the coefficient of moisture absorption increases;
• Due to the fact that only the soil under the plants will receive regular moisture, you will soon notice that the number of weeds on the site will decrease.

It is not surprising that this irrigation system is used almost everywhere, especially if you come to the country only on weekends. Next, we will consider how to organize drip irrigation with our own hands, from an elementary diagram to the installation of an automated line.

What are the advantages

Not every gardener is ready to water the plantings by hand or constantly move hoses and sprinklers around the site. There are more modern and practical options: drip irrigation systems. You can buy them ready-made or assemble them yourself. A high-quality system, selected taking into account the water supply and the relief of the site, has been working for several years without needing to be repaired. At the end of the season, it is dismantled, and in late spring, when the ground is completely thawed, they are reassembled.

In greenhouses and greenhouses, drip irrigation allows not only to ensure the supply of water to the roots of plants, but also to maintain the necessary air humidity. In heated shelters, the system can function all year round.

The principle of operation of the drip system is not complicated. Water is supplied from a water supply system (flow type) or comes from a separate container. The flow is regulated by a crane. The water then passes through a filter and irrigation controller, which distributes moisture through the supply pipes or belts. They are distributed among the plants, water flows directly to the roots through small holes.

• saving water;
• the ability to water at any convenient time;
• ensuring the level of moisture required for a particular crop;
• ease of installation, use and repair;

• affordable price;
• spot irrigation reduces the number of weeds on the site;
• the ready-made set can be improved by purchasing additional elements.

Expert opinion
Vasily Kuznetsov

A correctly selected and laid system does not spoil the appearance of the site: it is simply not noticeable under the lush foliage. If necessary, it can be increased by adding additional hoses. Transmission lines do not injure plants and do not interfere with their development.

Self-expanding wonder hose

Only the lazy has not heard about this model. The hose has gained popularity thanks to advertising in the media. Customer reviews for this device are very controversial. Someone tirelessly praises him, but for others he turned out to be a useless and expensive item.

Among the advantages of the model, it is worth noting its lightness, compactness, nice design, ease of transportation and the fact that it does not twist.

Self-expanding wonder hose

As for the cons, from a marketing point of view, there are none. But numerous customer reviews suggest otherwise.

1. High price.
2. Fragility.
3. Works only with good water pressure.
4. A huge proportion of fakes.
5. Can't be repaired.
6. Fails quickly.

These are just a few of the negative qualities of a promising hose. But even so, it has excellent demand. The question arises why?

In pursuit of inexpensive analogs, consumers often acquire fakes that do not meet the declared functional characteristics and quality level of the advertised product.

The principle of the miracle hose is very simple. It consists of a rubber hose and nylon. This two-in-one design allows the hose to stretch and grow to more than double the original size. This stretching occurs under the pressure of water and provides a powerful atomization of the jet stream. As the head decreases, the hose becomes smaller.

How the miracle hose works

The Miracle Hose is perfect for:

• for watering plants;
• for car wash;
• for washing windows and facades;
• for cleaning the outdoor pool in the personal plot.

Attention! By purchasing a quality product, you will become the owner of a durable durable stretchable wonder hose.

How to choose drip irrigation: key characteristics

When choosing a drip irrigation system, it is necessary to take into account such characteristics of the belts as their diameter and working pressure, the pitch between the holes, the intensity of the water consumption.

Strength and operating parameters of irrigation elements

The diameter of popular types of tapes varies between 16-22 mm, moreover, to ensure uniform irrigation, their length should be no more than 250-450 m.

When choosing, it is important to take into account the wall thickness - it directly affects the service life of the product. If the site is dominated by stony soil, the optimal indicator is 15 mm, 8-10 mm - more versatile and affordable solutions that are resistant to most types of external influences

To ensure reusability, the tapes should be rinsed regularly and stored during periods of indoor downtime.

The minimum working pressure for the normal functioning of the irrigation system is 0.1-0.5 bar. The label must indicate that the tape is capable of withstanding pressures up to 1 bar. If a barrel raised above ground level is used as a source of water, there is no need to fear excessive overpressure, but for systems supplying moisture from a water tap, this indicator should be taken into account.

Hole pitch and characteristics

Emitters can have different throughput, the step between them is determined based on the characteristics of the product. For plants located close to each other, it is necessary to select ribbons with a small step. The characteristic under consideration depends on 2 conditions - the type of soil and the method of planting (it can be single-row or double-row).

Melons need a large distance between the holes - from 40 cm, a step of 30 cm is optimal for tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, potatoes. A distance of 10-20 cm is suitable for densely planted plants such as raspberries, garlic, parsley, lettuce, onions. This solution is applicable for sandy and light soils, here the earth is moistened with literally a solid line.

Water flow rate

This is one of the key characteristics of irrigation systems and illustrates the consumption of moisture over a specific period of time.

It is important to be careful here, as there are no universal combinations. The choice of the type of tape is primarily determined by the need for moisture in garden plants, and such indicators as the properties of water, the volume and rate of its production by the source, the type of soil, the total length of the drip row are also very significant.

Most often, there are solutions that exhibit low water consumption. Providing minimal friction with the belt walls, this model is very easy to use: to maintain the optimal scenario of moisture distribution, you just need to equip long rows. But here the service life of the tape is extremely dependent on the filtration mechanisms present.

An example of drip irrigation

Long lines consume about 0.6-0.8 liters per hour and are good for crops that need to be hydrated slowly. The standard flow does not exceed 1.5 l / h, it is equipped for ordinary fertile soil types. If the site is dominated by sandy soil or crops with a deep root system grow, it is necessary to ensure a higher flow rate - at least 2-3.5 l / h.

Specifications

The choice of the garden hose is not limited to its compliance with the requirements. Its characteristics play an equally important role.

Length

The easiest way is to choose the length of the hose, since it directly depends on the length and width of the section. The correct length should allow you to easily stretch the hose for supplying water from its source to any bed of the site. In this case, it is also advisable to leave a small margin of length just in case. It should also be borne in mind that there may be various structures or obstacles in the path of the hose. Therefore, the length should be calculated on the basis of the path that a person takes to get to a certain point in the garden or vegetable garden.

Before buying, it is advisable to draw on a sheet an approximate plan of the site with the location of the water source, all the beds and plantings, as well as residential and outbuildings. By measuring all the distances that you need to pull the hose, you can get its minimum required length. It is worth remembering that with drip or oozing irrigation, it is necessary to lay a rubber sleeve on each side of each of the beds, so all their sizes will have to be doubled.

In the event that the length turns out to be too impressive and there is a danger of simply getting entangled in the rubber "web", which will certainly arise from moving around the area during watering, you can divide one product into several shorter ones. Such segments are easily assembled into a system using connectors in the form of crosses or tees, to which the lengths of the sleeves are attached with metal clamps. Unfortunately, the more such connections, the slower and worse the water supply.

Diameter

To choose the right diameter of the hydraulic hose, it is enough to adhere to one simple rule: the inner diameter of the product should be in direct proportion to its length. Thus, the longer the hose itself, the larger it should be in diameter, and with it the throughput. It is in this case that the water pressure will be strong and continuous. If the diameter is too small for a long sleeve, pressure can damage it. In the event that the diameter is too large, and the hose itself is very short, instead of a good pressure at the outlet there will be just a small trickle, since the entire pressure is minimized inside.

Operating pressure

By choosing "working pressure" most often means choosing the thickness of the garden hose walls that can withstand a certain water pressure on them. Standard rubber hoses with one layer of material are able to withstand up to 2 bar, and reinforced multilayer ones - up to 6 bar. Both for a small garden or a pair of flower pipes, and for a huge plot with a whole garden, both the first and second options may be suitable. It all depends on the water pressure in the tap or pump.

Temperature Range

Almost all garden hoses are used exclusively during the summer season. Therefore, for the middle band, their limit of the permissible air temperature that the surface of the product can withstand should be at least +40 degrees. At the same time, even in winter, the hoses are removed to outbuildings, where the temperature can drop to -20 degrees. A high-quality hose can withstand such fluctuations without any problems.

Transparency

There are almost completely transparent materials, as well as regular materials, colored or black. Of course, the first option is much more convenient to use. In the event that any debris gets inside the product and clogs it, the transparent walls will make it easy to find this place and help to deal with the blockage. But if the blockage occurs in an opaque sleeve, you will have to look for this place only by touch, and in case of failure, just buy a new product.