How to Reuse a Garden Hose

Did your garden hose spring a leak? Is it taking up room in your garage because you hate to throw it out? That old hose still has some good life left. Put it to good use with some creative recycling ideas and keep it out of the landfill.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Protect the blades on a pair of ice skates. Simply cut two hoses the length of the blades, slit them lengthwise, and slip them over the blades.
2. Make handy grips for your garden tools. Cut short pieces of garden hose, slit them lengthwise and slip them over the handles of your hoes, trowels, rakes and other garden tools. A grip on a bucket handle will make carrying a heavy load much easier on your hands.
3. Create earwig traps with an old piece of garden hose. Cut short pieces from the hose and put them in shady places in your yard or along the sides of your house. The earwigs will crawl into the narrow, dark spaces. Dunk the hose pieces in a bucket of water to drown the earwigs.
4. Make an inexpensive soaker hose. Just seal one end with an end cap and make small holes along the hose. Connect it to a good hose and let it trickle into your flower beds or garden.
5. Slit a length of hose and place it around the chains on a swing-set. The hose will protect tender little fingers from getting snagged or injured on the chains.