Not all garden hoses are created the same. There are options for a variety of uses, and the right garden hose can help you work smarter, not harder, when it comes to moving water. No matter if you’re planning to grow a lush garden, filling up pools to beat the summer heat, or pressure washing some grimy sidewalks – we have the right hoses for your job.

There are surprisingly many types of hoses – and it can feel daunting with so much variety. But we can organize hoses into certain categories, based on their uses:

• Standard garden hose: Made of vinyl reinforced with cording or nylon mesh, this hose is best for common home tasks like watering the yard or garden by hand. The standard garden hose diameter is 5/8-inch, which corresponds to typical water spigots on houses.
• Expandable garden hose: These types are composed of a rubber hose covered by a stretchy fabric. They can be especially helpful if you need to water a distant part of your garden and don’t want to lug a heavy 100+ foot hose. Expandable hoses can look “shriveled” when water isn’t running through them, or can look flat, but will change shape when you turn on the tap.
• Polymer hose: Light and flexible, polymer hoses can provide heavy-duty durability while remaining lightweight and resistant to kinking.
• Metal hose: Also lightweight and difficult to kink or twist, a metal hose can be used with tools like long watering wands for the garden or patio planters without adding a ton of hose weight to the chore. It’s puncture-proof, typically made of stainless steel and won’t break down in a summer of harsh sunshine – but can heat up under the sun.
• Soaker hose: Made from materials including vinyl or rubber, soakers allow water to slowly pass through the length of the hose to soak the ground over time. Great for gardens or landscaping, soaker hoses can be set on timers and left to ensure regular irrigation for your plants. A soaker hose is a water-efficient choice that waters plants where they are placed at the roots. Soakers typically are left in place during a growing season and used either with automatic or manual timed watering cycles.
• Sprinkler hose: A sprinkler hose has small holes down the length of the hose that are designed to emit small streams of water. They can come in a variety of lengths but typically are flat, which means they can’t be deployed in many different directions at once, in case the hose kinks. A sprinkler hose can, however, be a great stand-in for areas like lawns or a garden row that needs supplemental watering, such as during dry weather.
• Pre-coiled hose:This type of hose is coiled to be compact for tight spaces and can be perfect for watering a small area, like on a deck or balcony and takes up less space than a typical garden hose. It can come in smaller diameters (for a lighter flow of water) but still offer standard total length, for example, a .75-inch diameter pre-coiled hose in a 50-foot length.
• Contractor/Heavy-Duty hose: Heavier, and typically made from rubber and/or vinyl that has been reinforced, hoses noted as “heavy-duty garden hoses” can withstand a season (or more) in the harshest of elements. They typically come in a larger diameter (3/4 inch) and in longer lengths, from 50 to 100 feet. They are designed to withstand greater water pressure per square inch (PSI) and to avoid kinks or folds that could compromise waterflow.
• Pressure washer hose: Labeled for use with a pressure washer, these hoses are designed to handle high PSI streams of water. They can be made of rubber sometimes with additional reinforcement like steel wire braiding. They come in different lengths and can be 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, or 5/16-inch diameter.

Note: The diameter of a hose can speak to its ideal use: the smallest diameter best for the lightest jobs (think delicate plant drip lines) and the widest diameter best for rapid action, like fighting fires or draining water quickly away in an emergency.

Garden Hose “Duties”

You will see options like heavy duty or medium duty hoses. This will also help you determine which hose is right for the task. Heavy-duty hoses are made from stronger materials and are more resistant to wear and tear. These hoses are used for watering large areas or big jobs like pressure washing a driveway. Medium-duty hoses are more lightweight and are good for the typical backyard watering session.

Need help setting up a hose system for your garden or landscaping? Check out McCoy’s information on irrigation systems for more ideas, and details on drip-irrigation hoses.

• Store out of direct sunlight to improve longevity and reduce UV damage.
• In sub-freezing temperatures, drain and store indoors.
• Coil after use and avoid stepping on or driving vehicles over hoses.
• Avoid damage at connections by handling carefully and not pulling at spigots.
• Avoid creating kinks or folds where hoses can be damaged and leaks can form.

For the best hose fitting, check the size and material of the coupling at the end of your hose and the spigot you're connecting it to. Brass fittings tend to be stronger than plastic ones and can last longer with correct use.

If you need to move hoses frequently, you might try using quick couplings that take less time to hook up and unhook, versus lots of time spent screwing in male to female couplings. And you can also get couplings to hook different diameter hoses to each other.

Ready to get going on your next project? If you are looking to pressure wash your deck or water your new raised garden beds, we have the right hose for the right project. Have everything delivered to your backyard so you can get started and get it done, faster.