Spring is here, and the garden is blooming. This means you need to water practically every day to keep those plants blooming. If you’re like me and love having potted plants in the yard, you know they need more watering than the beds do, so you have to pull out the hose, which can be a bit of a pain, or maybe not.

I’ve tried several different types of hoses. The cheap ones? Avoid! They kink, are stiff, and don’t last, and you end up paying more than you would for a good-quality model in the first place.

My Favorite Garden Hoses

For the lightweight versions, the zero-G 4001-100 Garden Hose, 5/8″ is the best one I’ve used. It’s light, kink-free due to its design, and lasts for several years. It is also very easy to coil up in the hose storage container. They collapse well and are very easy to manage.

zero-G 4001-100 Garden Hose, 5/8″ Key Features

• 50% lighter than commercial vinyl hose. The hose does not retract or expand. Max Feed Water Temperature (Fahrenheit):80. Flexible and easy to maneuver even in cold weather down to 35°FConsistent, high flow equal to a conventional 5/8″ hose. Crush-proof up to 1,800 lbf
• Jobsite tough – abrasion, leak & puncture resistant with a burst rating of 600+ psi
• Kink-resistant, easy to maneuver, drinking water safe & lead-free
• Does not expand or retract, guaranteeing an uninterrupted and high water flow Rate
• Assembled in the USA
• The hose does not retract or expand. Max Feed Water Temperature (Fahrenheit):80
• Flexible and easy to maneuver, even in cold weather down to 35°F
• Consistent, high flow equal to a conventional 5/8″ hose
• Crush-proof up to 1,800 lbf
• The hose does not retract or expand

If you like a more sturdy hose, the Flexzilla Colors SwivelGrip Garden Hose 5/8 in is a great option as it’s kink-resistant and has a nice, flexible build. I’m currently using this one in the backyard and the zero in the front, as it fits nicely and neatly in a hose pot. The Flexzilla is much more rigid and doesn’t kink, but it is heavier and takes up more space when stored.

Flexzilla Colors SwivelGrip Garden Hose 5/8 in Key Features

• Male and female Swivel Grip Connections – Hose and grip rotate independently; Makes connections and uncoiling easy; Naturally releases coils
• Earth-Tone Colors – Our premium colors go seamlessly with your lawn and garden’s natural tones
• Premium Hybrid Polymer – Won’t kink under pressure, coils easily, and lays flat with zero memory
• Tight leak-free connections – Anodized aircraft aluminum ends, and a durable O-ring provide long-lasting leak-free connections
• Extreme all-weather flexibility – Unlike standard hoses that become stiff and brittle, our hose remains incredibly flexible, even in extreme conditions

The one thing I wanted in the backyard was a better way to store the hose and quickly deploy it, as well as put it away. The best solution is a retractable type.

Retractable Hose Reel

I recently decided to stop stashing the garden hose behind the spa and get a solution that makes pulling it out and putting it away as fast and easy as possible. Plus, the wife will appreciate a cleaner look. I’ve had the hand-crank version, and that is better than nothing, but cranking 85 feet of hose isnt fun, and they do tend not to spool up correctly, so you end up pulling the hose back out and guiding it perfectly onto the reel.

Giraffe Tools Retractable Heavy Duty Hose Reel

This is the solution I should have used many years ago. I like this ground-mounted design because I don’t want to mount it on the house or the fence. I think it looks cleaner on the ground. Putting it up on a fence makes the reel stand out more. The Giraffe Tools Retractable Heavy Duty Hose Reel mounts on the ground using included stakes you pound into the earth, or you can use concrete screws if you have a deck or want to use some blocks on the ground. I opted for the stakes as my water spigot is over a flower bed.

Giraffe Tools Retractable Heavy Duty Hose Reel Key Features

• LESS TOOLS, LESS FUSS – No wall damage or complicated installations needed! Easily install our reel on the lawn with only a hammer (concrete installation option also available), and its compact, sleek design complements any outdoor décor.
• WIDER COVERAGE, INVISIBLE STORAGE – This ground-mount reel enjoys 20% more coverage than wall-mounted rivals. Hide the reel discreetly behind plants, pull out the hose, and lock it at any length as you wish. A reel that hides as well as it works!
• STREAMLINED DESIGN, EFFORTLESS CLEAN-Say goodbye to dirt traps! This reel boasts a streamlined design that eliminates hard-to-clean corners and seams, effectively preventing dirt and grime buildup. Always keep your machine as clean as when you first saw it!
• WIND- & PULL-PROOF PERFORMANCE – Why fight tipping holders? Engineered with a lowered center of gravity and reinforced joints, our hose reel stays rooted even on concrete after three thousand pulling experiments.
• NO MESS, NO STRESS- Stop wrestling with tangled hoses! This reel auto-retracts with a gentle tug, stores the hose neatly, saving time and backyard space. User-friendly details, including the hide-in handle and detachable front cover, make it enjoyable for all ages.

I did some research and found this Giraffe Tools Retractable Heavy Duty Hose Reel on Amazon. It has a solid rating, and the reviews, for the most part, are positive. I did purchase the Giraffe and will do a full review once it’s installed. I am looking forward to a more convenient storage solution for my backyard watering needs.