Thank you for your feedback

You have rated this page helpful

You have rated this page not helpful

Enter the title of your guide here (example: "Top products for...")

Please install the latest version of Adobe's Flash Player to view the videos

You rated this helpful.

Gently Guide the Garden Hose through the Garden

by pestyside

Oct 31, 2010

3 Helpfuls 4 Helpfuls

In the land of underground irrigation and sprinklers it seems surprising to find garden hoses dragged across the yard. Gardeners in cooler climates and regions, where automatic sprinklers are less common, garden hoses and guides are a way of life for homeowners. In the south garden hoses provides spot watering, especially during periods of intense summer heat. Garden guides protect the garden, provide efficient movement of hose, and offer opportunities to express our personalities.

As in so many garden products there is considerable diversity ranging from extremely utilitarian to elegant and ornamental. Some guides are better than others.

Diversity of ornamental hose guides allows persona

Heavy Duty Hose Guide

$44.75

Dancing Frog Cast Aluminum Hose Guide - Forest Gre

Hose Guide - Watering Can in Antique Rust

Cast-Iron Hose Guides

Garden hose guides are designed to move hoses away from delicate plants. Common features include:

A support stake that is pushed into the ground
Spindles that help the hose glide past the guide
Ornamental features appear on all except for the most utilitarian
Easy to install

Conduct a search for "garden hose guides" and if you really want to personalize it's possible to find dragonflies, acorns, pine cones, butterflies, birds, marble globes, glass globes in different colors, gnomes, ivy leaves, ladybugs, and squirrels. It's possible to find guides with double spikes for added stability. I have one but it was a gift and the source is unknown, but it's cast iron and very sturdy--very desirable for corners or edges where hose pull stress is greatest.
Some propose cutting one-inch PVC pipe and sliding it down over a length of rebar. This undoubtedly supports the hose drag and protect plants from the dragging hose, but unless you paint a garden scene on the PVC pipe, this is an unattractive option -- functional but too utilitarian for a flower garden. We gardeners can do better! My favorites are cast iron with smooth turning spindles, and whimsical ornamentation. Wander my garden and you'll see several different styles.

Very Utilitarian - But Does it Do the Deed?

Suncast Corp No. Hs10225d Hose Guid Spike Dsp (044365005485)

from $2.15

(2)

The Suncast Hose Guide Spike

This hose guide is pedestrian and affordable but it's realistic if you need a dozen or so hose guides right away. The spike is easily pushed into all types of soils, including my loamy clay soil. I find that it’s also easily pulled out of my soil, especially when I’m hurrying and yanking it around. It’s very utilitarian in appearance and once more interesting (and affordable) hose guides were located this was quickly replaced. I continue to keep it in obscure locations of the garden, under dense shrubs, but not in key turning locations that receive more force from the hose.

Whimsy in the Garden

18in Hose Guide With Bunny...

Bunny Hose Guides

While cute, the Bunny Hose Guides are too tall for most soils, the finish chips off and the underlying metal rusts--when looking for hose guides look elsewhere. The black finish began chipping off. I used these one year in Illinois and found rust in the places where the finish was wearing away. (Actually it was in the soil less than one year - they were removed, cleaned and stored over winter before being returned to the garden in the spring.) In Texas, the lower third of the stake quickly rusted, even with cleaning.

Magical glow and garden guide

Illuminarie Hose Guide 3pk.

Illuminarie Hose Guide

This is one of my more attractive hose guides and I'd probably buy it for that purpose alone if on sale, but the soft nighttime glow is non-existent. The hose guide performs as intended except for the glow. The globe and finial combination is attractive so it will remain until it is no longer sturdy. If, however, you are hoping for a soft, subtle light for your garden path I recommend looking elsewhere. This makes me want to buy inexpensive solar lights designed for the garden and use them as hose guides.

Very ornamental and functional

Fleur de Lis Cast Iron Hose Guide with Red Gazing Globe (set of 2)

$44.95

Fleur de Lis Cast Iron Hose Guide with Gazing Globe

Even with an in-ground sprinkler system I find use of a hose is occasionally necessary. I'm also fond of the whimsical and artsy influence of eclectic hose guides. The spindle on this model turns. No matter what your need, this heavy-duty cast-iron Fleur de Lis hose guide is multi-purpose and reliably functional thanks to the seven-inch stakes. It really worked in the cottage garden that framed the front of my large Victorian house.

Non-spindle hose guides, simple yet effective

Bosmere 310 - Hose Guide - Wren - (Bosmere)

Scroll Hose Guides, Set of 6

Rumford Gardener OST1026 U-Shaped Plastic Hose Guide- 3 Pack

$17.50

Leaf Hose Guides, Set of 6

The leaf hose guides lend themselves to hose patterns that don't change during the season. These can be raised, elevating the hose, to rest above mulch. They're durable and practical. The Iron Fleur De Lis Garden Hose simply guides the hose through a rack, much like the Scroll Hose Guides that directs the hose through small loops. Consider placing these around the garden in areas where you suspect it might be necessary to periodically move your garden hose.

The Rumford Gardener U-Shaped Plastic Guide is plastic, it's not very sturdy, and too much hose pull will break this inflexible guide. It's definitely not recommended by this gardener.