Which watering hose is best to choose in order to maintain a quality garden?
Each owner wants his garden to be kept in order, and the choice of equipment for watering is an important part in caring for your site.
To date, there is a large number of hoses for irrigation, they are different material, the manufacturer, have a different diameter and length.
The article will help you to choose from the variety of presented models one that is most suitable for your site.
Contents:
- Types of hoses and material
- Performance characteristics
- Usage and care
Hose types and material
Hoses for irrigation are diverse in their material, the price of the hose itself largely depends on them, so it is better to understand what kinds of devicesthere are before buying it for your site.
The first type of hose for irrigation is nylon. It is made of a single-layer material. The main advantage of this type is flexibility, it is easy to fold and remove after you have watered your site with it.
Its minus is the possibility of damage and deformation at too high or low temperatures. The water pressure in this device can reach up to 6 bar.
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Plastic models have similar properties - they are good for bending, but they can not withstand temperature changes and mechanical influences, so it's easy to damage them, but they are also low in price.
Plastic and nylon are most often produced by flat models for watering - their advantages are ease and convenience, coping with watering with such a device can even a child.
But with these advantages, they also have significant drawbacks: if the flat model is not watered for a long time, it can stick together from the inside, and it can be used only if the material is completely unwound, and the instability to temperature drops reduces the period of its operation.
However, even with accurate use, the life of such a hose will be short-lived, only about 3-5 years.
Rubber hoses for irrigation are the most common and well-known type. It is quite strong and well stretchable, which justifies the choice of this model by many consumers.
The life of rubber models is about 15 years, and the water pressure reaches 53 bar. If your site is large and the pressure of water is serious, then it is better to stop your choice on this option.
Garden hoses for watering from PVC, perhaps, the most durable. Their service life reaches 35 years and can be even higher with accurate operation.
Many consumers do not want to buy such models;there is an opinion that this material is badly bent.
In fact, these models are quite convenient to use, becauseThey are equipped with a special insert made of fabric, which makes them softer and more comfortable to use.
It's best to choose reinforced watering devices, becausethey are resistant to low temperatures and mechanical stress and have a long service life - at least 10 seasons.
Vinyl models for watering usually last for no more than 2 seasons.
Good and quickly gaining popularity among consumers - type X-HOSE.
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Inside the hose is made of tough dense rubber, and the outside is covered with nylon, which makes it very convenient to use: it is easy to stretch and just folds up just enough to block the water.
Once the water supply is renewed, the device itself increases in length by about 3 times - it is much more convenient than unwinding and rewinding the system for irrigation each time, although this model is somewhat more expensive than usual.
Performance characteristics
The device separates multilayer and single-layer hoses. Choose which is better to buy, it is necessary based on the scale of the site on which the device will be used.
If the territory is small, and all you need to water is a small garden beds or beds, enough for a small device.
If the territory is larger, it is better to choose at least a two-layer model, becausesingle-layer will not be able to withstand a great deal of water for a long time.
If you use a hose often, even for small garden areas it is better to choose two-layer devices, becausesingle-layered, in addition to their performance properties, also have a poor resistance to microorganisms and algae, which are formed in their transparent body due to the active action of ultraviolet.
Find out what water pressure you need - so you can calculate the required number of layers, each new layer increases the resistance of the product by 5-6 bars.
You can find out the number of layers of the model you like right in the store, having specified from the seller.
It is best to know in advance what water flow is planned for irrigation and, based on this, choose what diameter the hose should have.
The diameter of the watering hose directly depends on its length: the more it is, the larger the diameter. The length of the device will depend on the area you are going to handle.
Finding the required length of the device is easy: just measure the distance from the tap to the furthest point you want to water.
It's better to slightly increase the resulting value( just round it up).Today garden hoses are produced from 7 to 100 m long, so picking up suitable for your site will not be a problem.
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The smaller the diameter, the worse will be the performance of the hose. Ordinary garden hoses for watering the garden and flowerbeds have a diameter of 13 mm - it is equal to the size of the water hose.
If the water pressure is planned to be large, then pay attention to models with a diameter of 19 or 25 mm.
The temperature in your area is another important factor that you should pay attention to when choosing equipment.
If there are frosts below 20 degrees in winter, then it is best to buy vinyl or silicone hoses, but it should be borne in mind that with each experienced season their resistance to temperature drops will decrease.
It will not help to protect against loss of operational properties and storage of hoses in barns or tool houses, tk.in winter it will still be cold there.
If you live in northern regions where the temperature falls below 30 degrees in winter, only reinforced watering hoses that do not crack even at such extreme temperatures will do.
Plus temperature can also negatively affect the device, but all the same, all models are easier to transfer: both unarmored and reinforced structures can withstand heat up to + 40 degrees.
If you need a hose not only for watering, but also for pumping water from a well or well, then the usual one will not work for you - in this case you need food.
Its rubber does not contain harmful impurities that are present in ordinary garden hoses: paint, resin and other chemicals.
If you use a garden hose, then it is likely that these particles will enter the water and cause significant harm to your body.
Use and care
For the convenience of watering the site, modern hoses are manufactured with special nozzles. For the garden is suitable spray nozzle, it is convenient for drip irrigation, becausehas holes located at an equal distance from each other.
Microporous hoses are much more convenient.when using them, there is no need to calculate how much liquid is required to irrigate the area.
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In addition, such a hose will be able to more evenly moisten the soil and plants.
Some models, in addition to a convenient nozzle, also have a special protective layer inside which resists the reproduction of microorganisms inside the hose and extends the life of the hose, so if you plan to use the garden hose for a long time, pay attention to these models.
Care of the hose is no less important than its correct choice, because proper operation will help to make the life of the device as long as possible.
First of all, avoid mechanical impact on the "body" of the hose. Especially this applies to nylon and plastic models, which are very easy to damage.
Also use special drums for winding hoses - they help to avoid breakage, wear, torsion, and other deformations of the device.
Before moving the irrigation equipment, make sure that there are no sharp objects on the territory that can damage it.
The cart with the drum is also advantageous for transporting the hose, becauseit's safer and more convenient than dragging it on the ground every time.
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Do not leave the equipment in the sun for a long time, especially for nylon and plastic products - after watering immediately transfer them to the shade.
Either buy hoses marked "UV" - it means that the product has been protected from ultraviolet radiation during production. Do not store the hose filled with water.
After you have finished using it, remove all water and rewind the product.
Now you know how to choose a watering hose and how to properly care for it. Use these simple rules, and your equipment will serve you more than one season.
