Hose end sprayer

What kind of hose end sprayer do you use?

As in hand-held, or a sprinkler? (I assume you mean nozzle attachments, not sprinkler heads.)

Hand-held (on the hose), I have a rather expensive one I got from Seeds of Change. I just got tired of sprayer nozzels not holding up. I also have one that just emits a wonderful fine spray for tiny seedlings, also from SOC.

I have the trigger and the old fashioned -turn back and forth thingy - do I need to take a picture...sheesh, how do I describe it LOL...Anyway, both are metal. The plastic ones weren't even holding for a season. Anyway, both of the above ill-described ones are adjustable for whatever I'm doing.

I have a metal trigger thingy (brass fittings) with a dial-a-spray doohicky so I can choose to blast the heck out stuff, or give it just a fine spray. It's got about 6 or so settings, of which I use maybe 3.

Seems like I got it a Lowes, or something, a couple years ago, in the $3 - $5 range. It works.

Cheri'

These are the two I use:
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.asp?UID=2003071314391547&item_no=S15125
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.asp?UID=2003071314391547&item_no=S15151

I'm sorry, I'm looking for the thing that I would put on the end of the hose to spray fertilizer/compost tea with. the one that mixes with the water. I've gotten several with plant foods but they don't even last a summer.

OOOOhhh, that thing.
I use the MG thing to spray MG. Other than that, I use one of those pump-spray bottles, no hose.
sorry,
Cheri'

I have 2 of them and have never gotten one to work. I don't know if it is the operator or the appliance.

I love the wand type, that flips from jet stream to mist. I kind of water, jet stream the patio table, go back to water, mist the little tinys in pots, .....it takes over an hour.......(lol) but I love it all, because...it's part of gardening!

Oh, now I understand your question!

I bought the MiracleGro brand sprayer attachment for my garden hose, and for 2 years it has worked well. I use the pre-measured bags of MG in it. However, if I use the hose bibb in the backyard, which has less water pressure, it doesn't work as well.

Oh! (oops) I use the MG hose end sprayer too. It does clog at times, I put compost tea, worm tea, and (the unpopular Miracle Grow), depending upon what I'm watering. I have to unscrew the sprayer attachement and hose it out to clear it at times.

Anastatia I was wondering if it was the operator also.

Maybe I need to clean mine. I have two different ones and it just drips water. Thanks for your help.

I have a couple lengths of water hose, and it bugs me when they kink up and shut off the water supply.

I am wondering if there is any remedy, or should I have bought better quality. Do all hoses kink?

I am looking for an old fashioned metal sprayer. The only ones I seem to find are the cheap plastic ones that don't last one season. I don't care for the nozzle types or the ones with triggers or different settings, just the sprayer as I use shut off valves on the hose. Help anyone? Sure am happy to find Daves Garden & friends!

elsie, have you put new gaskets in the sprayer? I find the new plastic gaskets being used don't last as long as the old rubber ones did.

Birdsall, I buy real rubber hoses from Sears because they have a lifetime guarantee. They are not cheap, buy when one fails, I just cut off the ends and take them back to the store. No questions asked, no receipt needed, and I get a new hose. Haven't paid for a new hose in 20+ years! Yes, I think all hoses kink, but better hoses seem to kink far less. Cheap vinyl hoses drive me nuts.

LittleShima, are you talking about the long tapered (usually brass) sprayers like our grandparents used? ?

Darius, I cleaned it with a toothbrush and it's working great. I will remember to check the gasket, thanks.

I had to buy a new hose this spring, I didn't get the best, but not the cheapest either. I think it was 75 feet and the kinks were unreal. I was talking to my Dad and he said it's because of the way I took the hose out of the packaging. I hadn't thought about but I think he's right - as usual. He said have someone hold a broom handle in the middle of the coil and pull the hose from the outside letting the coil turn around the broom handle. It was hard to get all the kinks out of this long hose.

elsie, it's much harder to get kinks out of a vinyl/plastic hose because it has to warm up to be really effective. Vinyl takes a 'set' in whatever shape it is in when it is cold.

darius,Did you just take the ends?

This message was edited Friday, Jul 25th 9:45 AM

cc... At first, I took the entire hose. The salesmen told me to just cut 6" or so off each end and not bring the rest. I guess they tally exchanges by just the ends of 1 complete hose, and have no space for an old dead hose, LOL.

Thanks darius.


This message was edited Friday, Jul 25th 9:46 AM

I made the plunge today and went to Sears and bought their rubber hose with a LIFETIME WARRANTY. I also went to another store in our area (Menards) and purchased a hose reel with a motor that is driven by water pressure. I have it working now. I need to put some finishing touches on it like a longer drain hose when motor is operating. I also need to determine the best location for reel. I think I am going to like it. I paid $100 for it.

Birdsall that sounds so great. My Dad gave me his crank hose reel and I just about broke my arm reeling the hose in.

Birdsall, please post here how the water-driven reel works. I HATE rolling up the hose (usually just when the yard needs mowing or company's coming) and also hate a hand-crank reel!

You should be pleased with the rubber hose, even though they can kink. At least you will never have to PAY for another hose, LOL!

Darius - The only thing I know is that the motor is driven by water pressure. It is turned on by pulling up on a handle which shuts off the water from the hose and turns on the water for the motor. When the motor is running, you need a drain hose for the water from the motor to escape.

The motor is not fast, but it reels in the hose evenly. I have 200 feet of hose which is probably more than I need, but I think more is better when it comes to gardening. I hope to get my planting finished this week end.

I have decided to locate the reel by a corner of the house which will permit me to lay the hose in a straight line before reeling it in. It will also be in a position for the drain water to runn off into the pachysandra bed with a locus tree.

Wow, that's a lot of hose! Does the reel come in more than one size, say for 50' of hose?

Darius - I just found the one size, but here is a number to call for information:

Hydro Industries 866-493-7638

I just came in from the heat to take a coffee break. I had about 125 feet of hose out watering my flowers, and it reeled in like a charm. I am learning how to use it effectively.

Thanks, Birdsall. I'll check that out. Cannot buy one right now, but maybe soon.

i needed to replace a hose last year and i went for rubber. i still have the other, but it is only a matter of time before they go. the investment in rubber is well worth it as i'm sure the "good" sprayers are too.

You can buy new female and male connector ends to attach to old dead hoses. LOL I find mine always stretch out or get limp right where the metal ring attaches. I just cut them off and put on plastic ones. They are only a couple of bucks.

Birdsall, I looked at the demo for your hose reel. Pretty cool concept! Here's the link, if anyone else is curious: http://www.hydro-industries.com/demo.asp

Bdseed, I do that a lot with soaker hoses, altering them to fit a bed. I just hated repairing vinyl hoses, not to mention the frustration with kinks.

edited for spelling!

This message was edited May 7, 2004 7:02 PM

Darius - Thanks for posting the excellent web site for the hose reel.

FYI my reel rewinds 200 feet of rubber hose without apparent difficulty. This leads me to wonder about one of the FAQ:

"Can we use rubber hose?"


"Yes, due to the thickness of the hose you should only use up to 75'. It is better to use regular vinyl hose and than you will be able to put up to 125' of hose."

Yeah, Birdsall, I saw that notation. I figured it was CYA thing... so many companies today lean towards the minimum uses of a product to aviod lawsuits.

I have concluded that brass hose fittings are the best. I bought two brass valves today--a bit more money, but they connect much more easily than those made of inferior substances.

Dairus, thanks for the Seeds of Change web site. It is very inviting, and I am looking forward to growing many flowers from seeds next spring.

Are you using that $40 nozzle from SOC? A little pricey but it might be worth it.

Yes, that's one of the nozzles I use. My first one broke (developed a crack in the housing, perhaps my fault from a freeze) and they cheerfully replaced it at no charge even though it was a year later.

I also have a hose end mister from them, and it's absolutely wonderful for seedlings.

I concur about brass fittings. I've thrown away too many plastic ones after a short period of use. Same with cheap (or not so cheap but not as expensive as SOC) nozzles. I've had my SOC nozzel 3 years now and am very satisfied. I do have to remember to disconnect it before the winter, though, just as I do my hoses when I drain the hose bibbs.

I am beginning to think that the $40 nozzle might be worth the money. I am getting frustated with my sprayer.

Yeah, birdsall, it took quite a lot of frustration, not to mention several $8-10 nozzles, before I took the plunge.

Now, if I could just get more water pressure...

I found a solid brass nozzle for my rubber hose at a local building supplies store. It is a very simple old fashion design, manually adjustable, and cost less than $10. No long wand to bother with.

I also found sold brass shut-off valves for less than $3.00.

Now I am just about all solid brass.

Cool. I love my brass fittings. Now if they would just make washers that last...

I used the brass valves and nozzle tonight. Frustration ensued. First the fittings leaked until I replaced the washers with rubber ones using a wrench to tighten them. Secondly the nozzle works alright, but it is not as adjustable as I would like it to be.

It looks like I will be visiting SOC again.

But on a happier note I took delight in watching the hose reel up.

LOL, Birdsall... you are having a time of it, aren't you?