JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs Forums Photo Galleries Ask The Experts Tools & Directories        
Return to the Garden Accoutrements Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
Need ideas for hose guides

Posted by KathyGA_z7 Cumming (My Page) on
Tue, Jun 7, 05 at 23:52

Does anyone have any clever ideas for making hose guides? I need to make quite a few and would love something clever. Some of them will be along a woodland path that leads to my daughter's playhouse. I would love to hear what other's have done.

(I posted this in Garden Junk too)


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

  • Posted by dian57 M-H Valley NY-5 (My Page) on
    Wed, Jun 8, 05 at 6:17

Mine come from Walmart and look like antique acorns. So my suggestions are just my imagination, not personal experience.

I'm thinking you need something cylindrical with a metal rod in it. How about small secions of tree trunks (3-4" diameter)? Or fill a soup can or tennis ball with cement, insert the rod and once released, mosaic the outside?

Garden Junk will come up with tons more ideas for you.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

4" PVC drain pipe has a sturdy wall thickness 1/4"?, and is inexpensive. You can get creative with the spherical cap ends. Drill a hole thru the top and mount finials. Paint them with the new plastic formulated sprays available.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I use giant staples made from broken spading forks.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

Pound a piece of rebar into the ground and drop a somewhat taller piece of PVC pipe over it, or a section of bamboo. Decorate the top with anything you like.

Sue


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I am a sculptor working in clay. My hose guides are made of clay in a variety of shapes and glazes. They are fun and compliment my various garden sculptures.

Pauline


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

In a book I recently read, (sorry, can't remember the title) the author suggested two 6-8" terra cotta flower pots turned bottom to bottom with a metal rod pushed into the ground through the drainage holes.

I've tried it, and it does work, but for a more permanent solution, I would adhere the pots together.

They look nice too!


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I sink copper pipes and tap on a copper cap. They almost
dissapear with age...the patina turns brown/green.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

My husband and I used old weights that came out of old windows,you know the ones that were on ropes that held the window up when lifted.They have holes in the tops so you could run rope chain etc. thru if you like.Ours are all banged up and rusty and look like they have been in the yard forever.
Sharyl


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

LinLee, I have seen those in magazines and thought they look BEAUTIFUL! I was wondering though, does the copper and verdigris affect the soil and the plants so that you'd notice? Are your plants right near them doing fine? I'd love to try that but when I priced it out at Home Despot it was expensive enough (for me ;>) that I want to be sure that it's the 'big buy' of the season and that I won't regret it!


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

Spy RI,
I only have a few spaced at strategic points so I don't decapitate any innocent plants.
Since copper can be an environmental problem I probably wouldn't use it to stake the
tomatoes. They're placed on the very fringes and corners of the garden beds and
I've seen no ill effects within the past 6 years.
LinLee


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

LinLee,

Are you talking about the copper plumbing pipe? I had that at my old house and found the hose often slipped up over the top.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

Yes...regular 1" copper plumbing pipe with cap. I cut it into 2' lengths and sink
about 1'. It sets up higher than
the "real" hose guides, but it blends right in.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

LinLee ... that is a great idea. Thanks!


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I buy old fireplace tools, cut the shovels, etc off or most of them just screw of. Instant hose guides. And you already have a neat final on top.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I was just thinking what am I going to do for hose guides when the thread came up on GJ an dsomeone linked here. Don't you know we have a pile of sash weights in the cellar! Can't wait to try them out. Thanks Gimpytwiced!
I like the other ideas here and at GJ too, but its hard to beat free and available.
kathy


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I am trying rebar with tops and will let you know how it turns out. I found several wooden tool handles for cheap at a garage sale, and have bought 2 ft rebar in size that fits snugly into the hole in the tool handle (which I painted a dark green).

I have also considered buying old tools, old crowbars, etc but have not found cheap enough. The trick in my yard seems to be getting something I can sink deep enough---into the rocky clay layer beneath the good soil--so they won't bend over when hose drags--and still have enough height for hose which may ride up a bit--which is why I am trying the 2-ft rebar. I plan to use some epoxy, but am still afraid the "tops" will pop off the rebar if the hose rides up.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I made these 4-5 years ago and they work great for me.
I was always running the hose through this flower bed
trying to water the side of the house.
I took an old 4x4 post.
Cut it into 4 pieces - each 2 foot long.
Burried 1/2 down in the ground.
Bought 4 squirrels down at the Family Dollar Store
and set them on top.
To keep the squirrel on top, I took large finish nail hammered it into the post
and drilled a small hole into the bottom of the squirrel.

I seen the other day they has cardinals,
dogs snail and squirrels.
...........cheryl

MVC-015S

Here is a link that might be useful: hose guides


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I think an old glass door knob would make a wonderful finial on top of one of those posts. Not sure how you'd attach it (which makes my comment nearly useless - lol) but still it'd be pretty. =)


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

So cute cheryl! And violet I like your idea too, I'm sure where there's a will there's a way!
kathy


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

I use rocks, but Cheryl I love your hose guides.


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

for the Door knobs- great idea by the way- I just bought one of those double ended screws, the ones used in the decorative ceiling hooks at my local ace the other day, they come in different sizes you could take the knob in and try it out for size- one end is blunt the other end is a self tapping screw. Clear as mud?


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

GOLF CLUBS THEY WORK GREAT,YOU CAN GET THEM AT GARAGE SALES, OR YOUR FRIENDS THAT GAVE UP ON GOLF.JUST CUT THE RUBBER GRIP OFF WITH A SHARP BLADE STICK EM IN THE GROUND,ALSO THEY SERVE AS GARDEN ART,i AM TELLING YA THEY WORK GREAT. TOOTALL


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

Kathy:
Here's info and photos using PVC and steel uprights. Maybe this link will help - at least it's a cheap idea. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden hose guides


 o
RE: Need ideas for hose guides

If you are a wine drinker, why not use old wine bottles buried with their necks in the ground? There are many pretty glass colored bottles out there that could coordinate with most yard decors.


 o Post a Follow-Up

Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum.

    If you are a member, please log in.

    If you aren't yet a member, join now!


Return to the Garden Accoutrements Forum
 
 


iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network