Tip of the Week

November 17. 2008

DON'T FORGET TO DISCONNECT YOUR HOSES!

This often overlooked fall gardening chore can lead to water disasters!

Now that the weather has turned colder and nighttime temperatures are dipping into the 20's, it's time to disconnect and reel in your hoses for the winter. Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of busted hose connectors or, worse yet, broken water faucets because we forgot to disconnect our hoses from an outside faucet or spigot.

• Take a walk around the house and gardens and locate all your hoses, connectors, and sprinklers.
• Carefully drain all the water from your hoses BEFORE you roll them up for the winter.
• Tie your hoses with some twine to keep them coiled neatly.
• Store your hoses in the garage or basement for the winter.
• Covering the open ends of your hoses will keep ants, spiders, and other unwanted pests from making a home in your hoses over the winter. If you don't do this, be sure to flush your hoses with plenty of water before hooking them up to your sprinklers in the spring!
• Clean your sprinklers and any hose connectors and store these in the garage or basement for the winter.