Summer is the season for outdoor activities, and for many of us, our garden hose is an essential tool for keeping our plants healthy and our cars clean. However, not all garden hoses are created equal. A good garden hose can last 5 to 10 years if properly maintained, while a bad one can waste water, function poorly, and cause frustration. To help you avoid problems with your garden hose, let's take a look at what you should consider before buying a new one.

Types of Garden Hoses

When shopping for a garden hose, you may be surprised to find that there are many different types available. Here are some of the most common ones you're likely to find at your local garden center:

All-purpose hose: This is a basic hose for watering and cleaning, available in different sizes and materials, and may be lightweight or heavy-duty.

Flat hose: These compact, easy-to-coil hoses expand when filled with water but lay flat when not in use. They're usually made of lightweight material that won't last as long.

Coiled hose: If you're tight on space or just hate fighting with your hose when it's time to put it away, this type of hose retracts into a neat coil. They usually come in shorter lengths, so they're suitable for watering small areas.

Expandable hose: Another option for small yards or patios, an expandable hose looks petite, but its length doubles or triples when filled with water. These lightweight hoses are for light-duty jobs and generally don't last long.

Garden Hose Features

When selecting wholesale garden hoses, there are some features you should consider:

Length: Hoses typically come in lengths of 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet. Consider the size of the area you need to water or how far away your birdbath or dirty car is from the spigot/outdoor faucet and choose a length based on that.

Diameter: Hoses range from 3/8- to 3/4-inches in diameter, with most being 5/8-inch. The bigger the diameter, the more water a hose can carry, but the hose will also be heavier.

PSI: The flow rate or water speed and pressure in a hose are measured in pounds per square inch, or psi. The hose packaging will be marked with the maximum psi the hose can handle. The tougher the hose, the higher the psi.

Flexibility: The more flexible a hose, the easier it is to coil and uncoil. But if a hose is too flexible, it will kink easily, which can cause it to split and deteriorate faster.

Material: With a few exceptions, garden hoses are made of rubber, vinyl, or a combination of the two. Vinyl hoses cost less and weigh less, but they're generally not as durable as rubber hoses. Rubber hoses are heavier and costlier, but are more durable and less prone to kinking than vinyl hoses. Hoses made of a combination of vinyl and rubber are a good mid-range solution — they cost less than rubber hoses but last longer than vinyl ones.

How to Choose the Right Garden Hose

When buying a garden hose, consider the following:

Usage and durability: If you need a hose for occasional watering, you're probably okay spending less on a light-duty hose. For regular sprinkling or watering of a large lawn, go with a heavy-duty hose.

Type: The amount of storage space you have will determine whether you want a coiled or expandable hose or if you want to stick to a standard type.

Length: Consider the dimensions of the area you're watering and buy a hose that's slightly longer than the farthest point your hose has to reach.