Hozelock Hose Reel query

Interesting video, Val

I have one of those reels (had it a long time) but don't remember fitting it like that . Must be a senior moment (or years) . I guess it came with instructions and I just followed them so didn't take any of it into permanent memory.

I have two long hose reels (50m each) fixed on reels on the wall and one of those compact reels with a 30m length on it. The compact reel is used as an extension reel when I need to reach further into the garden. none of them leak unless a connector is beginning to fail.

It's surprising how the connectors tend to fail in different ways but it then gives me a collection of spare parts as I can cobble things together.

Kristen
I'm not quite sure what you mean about stop-end connectors reducing flow . I have them on all the hoses and when I take an attachment off it the water stops completely. Are you saying that it reduces the flow, when open, more than a normal connector? That might go towards answering something that has puzzled me. I was recently given a new pressure washer (by Wickes as the motor of the one I bought from them two years ago had packed up) and, in the instructions, it said that it shouldn't be connected by a stop-end connector. Maybe it's because they think the stop-end might reduce the flow too much - but that seems an illogical deduction as they say the washer can be run from a water butt!

 

Thanks for the info. I think I'll stick to my 50m hoses as the length of time it takes to do the watering is unimportant when using a sprinkler. It is probably more eco-friendly in my case because I don't always remember to turn the sprinkler off when I should. So running longer than intendedwon't use as much water.

 

Thanks Kristen, you guessed correctly about pointing it at specific areas. Until my main sprinkler started giving me problems, it covered just the right area - it could do both veggie areas at the same time. The other sprinkler covers just one veggie area but doesn't have an even coverage (it cost less than £3.50 in a trade warehouse - an offer I couldn't refuse ).

Yesterday I had delivered the Gardena 350/2 that you recommended as I thought that an adjustable width as well as depth would come in handy . It was on offer - only a £5 reduction, with no postage cost. Their website says it's discontinued.

I don't really need more pressure as it's pretty good here.

I've thought about using a timer but decided that I don't want to add any more complications to doing things (quote:- Mrs Shiney - "Not another gadget!!!" ) . The time I leave the sprinkler on an area depends on how the weather changes during the sprinkling period (if it changes from very hot, sunny, cloudy etc).

 

My watering is a lot less scientific. I water until I think it's enough. A couple of days later I check to see what the soil is like. If it's too dry I water again. If it's still damp I check a couple of days later. Seems to work OK

 

As I don't have as much to do as you, it all gets done - eventually. The front flower beds get done in 11 sections which gets done in about two days. Actually less time than that but the hosepipe is out there for that amount of time (just take off the sprinkler and the shut off works - and connect the other sprinkler in the back garden). In this sort of hot weather it needs doing about once a week.

The back garden is done in 9 sections but, as a lot of that is under tree cover it doesn't need to be done so frequently. The veggie area gets done once a week but gets about four hours.

The greenhouse, pots, baskets, nursery areas etc get watered by hand held hosepip every day. Using the hand held hosepipe only reduces the spread of the sprinklers by about 25%.