Lacking a better method to store a garden hose, many people choose to coil it up at the foot of the spigot. While neater than leaving it lying across the yard, coiling a garden hose is often tedious and messy. Moreover, that last coil always seems to succeed in whipping around to empty the last of the hose water onto your feet. Today, there are better storage methods.
Hose reels are made to store a garden hose without muss or fuss. There are many different models to meet all needs, all basically consist of a large spool encased in simple housing. Manual reels have a crank handle, while powered reels are also available. The garden hose connects to a hose tail in the housing that connects to the spigot. Just turn the crank handle to wind the hose onto the reel and you’re set.
A hose reel is a great place to store a hose, as it stays out of the way and is always available for use. Some reels are mounted, designed to install to studs on the house or building. This keeps the hose off the ground and the yard looking tidy. Of this type of hose reel there are parallel and horizontal models.
A horizontal hose reel can store a garden hose so that the hose pulls out away from, or perpendicular to, the wall, as is often required in a front yard. A parallel hose reel is made to store the hose along the side of a house or building. The hose extends off the reel parallel to the wall. This is handy for long driveways, watering the side yard or cleaning between buildings.
If you don’t like the idea of attaching a hose reel directly to the house, there is another type of hose reel in a plastic box-like encasement that simply sits by the spigot. Depending on which way you face this hose reel, the hose can pull out along the wall or away from it. This model has a lid that can support a potted plant to help blend it into the landscape.
Those with a single hose may want to consider a portable hose reel, also known as a cart reel. These models feature two wheels and a simple aluminum frame so that one can roll the hose from one spigot to another. This is a great storage solution when you need to move the hose from the front yard to the back yard.
Regardless of the model, a hose reel is an excellent way to store a garden hose. Manual crank models are less expensive than automatic models, and it takes little strength to turn the crank. A hose reel is a modest investment that will no doubt pay off with every use.