When our old garden hose is on its last legs, most of us throw it away.

This is “leaving money on the table” so to speak as even if it is no longer functional as a hose, it has many other potential purposes.

Protect New Trees:

If in your new landscaping you have young trees that need to be staked and supported, thread the support wires or ropes through a few pieces of old hose to prevent damage to trunks and branches. You can also skip the rope all together and just use a length of hose around stakes and trunks. The hose is flexible enough to give when the wind blows without cutting into the delicate bark.

Bucket Handle Grips:

A 5-6 inch length of hose can be split and slipped over the wire handle of a bucket for extra cushioning. You will thank your worn-out hose every time you pick up a full bucket!

Comfort Handles:

Similar to bucket grips, lengths of old hose can be put over ropes or handles to make lifting heavy objects and containers easier on your hardworking hands.

Blade Protector:

Make covers for your saw blades, chainsaw, knives, or ice skates with your old hose. Just cut the hose to the length of the blade and slit down the side so that it can be slid over the blades.

Dog Toy:

Sliced up into short pieces, a hose can make great chew and tug toys for your best friend. You can also stuff treats inside to keep your dog occupied when guests are over. Just make sure the lengths are manageable but not a choking hazard.

Bumper and Door Protection:

By screwing a few lengths of hose to your garage framing at the level of your car bumper and doors, you can help prevent dings and costly repairs. This also works great to provide a little extra cushion to boat docks.

Earwig Trap:

To rid your garden of Earwigs, place 6-inch pieces of old hose around your garden. The small, dark space attracts the earwigs, and they can easily be dispatched by shaking the hose over a bucket of soapy water to drown them.

Tool Hangers:

By screwing a few loops of hose large enough to accommodate tool handles to a board in your garage, you can create orderly storage solutions with little more than your old neglected garden hose!

Faucet Extension:

If you’d like to have an outdoor spigot away from the home, simply bury a length of hose about 4 inches deep and have it pop up wherever you like.

Funnel Extension:

Add length to your favorite funnel by simply putting it through a section of your old hose.

Gutter Cleaner:

If your down spouts become clogged with leaves or debris, just snake an old piece of hose up to the clog and give it a few pokes to dislodge the blockage.

Makeshift Door Stop:

Just cut a length of hose, squeeze flat, and jam under a door or gate. It will expand and help hold the door or gate open.

Hinges:

Six inch lengths of hose make great makeshift hinges on old barn, shed, and greenhouse doors.

That old garden hose has many uses left in it – so whatever you do, do not throw it away! In fact, if you used your old hose just for the list above, you would more than likely run out of hose, before you ran out of ideas for the hose.

To see even more ideas for your old garden hose, please visit Home and Gardening Ideas.