Hose tidies and reels: The best garden hose storage solution

Consider hose tidies and reels when looking for a safe spot to store your garden hose. Of all the garden storage solutions, this may be one of the most important and aesthetically pleasing. After all, who wants an unsightly hose pipe cluttering your outdoor space, or a hose permanently strewn across the patio? Keeping your garden hose safe and snug will make sure it lasts for years to come, providing your plants with an essential element to their growth and maintenance – water. Below, we answer all your questions about garden hose storage.

Hose pipes are a garden must; they help you tend to your lawn and bedding plants, giving your outdoor space some extra love that it deserves. So, finding adequate outdoor hose storage doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether on your garden wall or in your trusty garden shed, your hose isn’t fussy about where it goes. Just make sure you make the right choice for your lifestyle, aesthetic and lawn care needs. Not all hose pipe reels are unsightly – and we’ve managed to find a few stylish picks.

Best hose tidies, reels and storage at a glance

• Best overall hose tidy storage: Hozelock 2-in-1 Manual Hose Reel - View offer on Amazon UK
• Best retractable hose tidy reel: Hozelock Auto Hose Reel - View offer on Amazon UK
• Best hose tidy storage pot: Rolled Edge Hose Storage Pot Small - View offer on Etsy
• Budget-friendly hose tidy solution: Oypla Heavy Duty Garden Hose Pipe Hanger - View offer at B&Q

Of course, you could pop your beloved hose pipe in a garden storage box, but you’ll need something else to tidy it up – and stay contained. After all, you don’t want to wrestle with metres of hose pipe to get to your other garden tools. If you plan to have your trusty pipe on display in your garden, then opt for hose tidies or reels that are confirmed as waterproof garden storage – from rust to UV damage. We’ll cover more of this in our buyer's guide down below, which has been sprinkled into the FAQs.

Below, we have rounded up the best hose tidies, reels and storage solutions for your garden. Whether exposed or tucked away neatly, hose pipes are worth looking after. For this guide, we’ve gone all-in and considered every avenue and lifestyle. Garden organisation doesn’t have to be boring. To keep your hose tidy, consult our refreshing guide below for all the inspiration you’d ever need.

Best hose tidies, reels and storage

Hose tidies buyer's guide

When considering the best garden hose storage for your lifestyle, things such as budget and brand reputation will likely influence your decision. However, we implore you to look further into cable length capacity, material, ease of use, aesthetics, durability, additional features and portability.

Thanks to Easy Garden Irrigation, we have written a simple guide on which type of hose tidy for your outdoor space. From automatic hose reels to hosepipe hangers, we have covered all bases.

Manual hose reel

Manual hose reels are a budget-friendly type of hose storage, perfectly coiling up the length of the cable for storage. With a handle on the side, it’s relatively easy and hassle-free to reel back in.

Easy Garden Irrigation says these manual reels can be “mounted to an external wall or sheltered inside of a cabinet or hideaway box.” For large gardens, the brand recommends a hose reel cart. Consider metal hose reels if you’re likely to be using your hose often. Not only are they heavy-duty and built to “withstand the outdoor elements”, but have large wheels for reliable, sturdy use.

Retractable hose reels

Retractable hose reels are the next step up, ideal for those with “mobility issues or limited strength,” says Easy Garden Irrigation. When mounted on your garden wall, they offer a hassle-free solution – as you won’t need to “stoop down, detangle, or crank any handle.” It’s a little luxurious.

In most cases, reeling in is gentle, and automatic and is stored in a compact, safe case that you can pop on the floor or mount on the wall. For ease, Easy Garden Irrigation suggests the Hozelock Auto Reel.

Hosepipe holders or hangers

Arguably the most attractive-looking storage solution, hosepipe holders, hangers or stands are multi-functional, much like garden storage benches. Think about your garden aesthetic and choose something that catches your eye. These hose pipe reels will need a little DIY to be wall-mounted.

Easy Garden Irrigation says a hose pipe hanger should have a “round surface for the hose pipe to hang on” which spreads the weight “evenly so that no kinks, bends, or tangles occur”. No matter the material – metal or plastic, we recommend placing it in a shady spot, away from direct sunlight.

Hose storage pot

Lastly, hose storage spots are another simple way to keep your hose pipe at bay. Minimalist or decorative, a hose pot can reflect your own personal style or aesthetic. It can be funky, quirky or even camouflaged to blend in with the beautiful plants you have in your outdoor space.

However, much like the hanger storage, a hose storage pot does require you to coil by hand, says Easy Garden Irrigation. After all, hoses “left twisted in a storage pot can become severely damaged.” Despite not being very user-friendly, hose pots are a fabulous solution, doubling as garden décor.

FAQs

Why do I need hose tidies or reels?

Easy Garden Irrigation says hose tidies protect your precious garden hose from “the sun and temperature while keeping it neat and tidy.” After all, if your hose pipe gets tangled up, it will lead to damage – like splitting or kinking. Not only is sunlight damaging for the cracks and rupture in garden hoses, but water left in the tube to heat up or freeze can be just as bad for your garden tool.

If you’re wondering how to store a hose outside, Easy Garden Irrigation has left us with three main points to keep in mind: drain your hose pipe of any water, keep it tidy and away from direct sunlight.

How do I store hose pipes for winter?

To avoid any extensive plumbing repairs and expensive hose pipe replacements, Easy Garden Irrigation recommends preparing your garden for winter by using their easy hose-friendly tips:

Bring your hose inside a garage or shed for protection from the cold and wrap the hose for “extra protection from the cold”. When inside your garden storage, garage or shed, use a rounded surface like a garden hose tidies or reels, a hose hanger or a large circular plant pot for storage to maintain its shape.

When storing, Easy Garden Irrigation says to avoid hanging the hose on a nail to prevent any damage to the material. Remember to remove all attachments, including hose end fittings and the hose nozzle, before this step, as these “can retain water and become damaged if trapped water freezes.”

Lastly, “seal your hose over the winter” says Easy Garden Irrigation to keep it bug-free and maintain its integrity for springtime gardening. For this, consider investing in hose caps to prevent any unwelcome insects from making the pipe their home. Your trusty garden hose isn’t a bug hotel, after all.

How do I store a large or expandable hose?

Your garden hose, if a little different than most, may need extra care when storing. After all, they should be stored correctly to avoid any damage. If left lying around, hoses can be easily “run over by your car or a lawnmower” or even punctured by garden tools, says Easy Garden Irrigation.

For a larger hose, they suggest a Claber Jumbo Hose Reel – found in our round-up. These storage solutions can store extra-long hoses for larger gardens and will avoid any tangles.

As for an expandable hose, which is made to grow and shrink for easy use and storage. Though lightweight and very practical, they cannot be stored the same as regular hoses. Easy Garden Irrigation says cranking them into a hose reel or wrapping them around a hose holder can cause damage; instead, store them “indoors, out of direct sunlight, or in a storage container with a lid.”

Any ideas for hose storage?

Believe it or not, you can get creative with nearly every aspect of your garden – even your storage solutions. If you’re not keen on our picks, consider DIY-ing a hose holder or hanger. Easy Garden Irrigation has some hose tidy ideas, which include up-cycling and repurposing what you have.

By nailing a galvanizer pail or a vintage tire rim to a post, you have a cottagecore hose tidy in your beloved outdoor spot. You could even repurpose and up-cycle an old planter pot, an old tire and even a copper drum and washtub – to make your own hose pot for a rustic look and feel.

If you’ve got the smarts, go green and make it yourself, why not? Upcycling is the future.

What to read next:

Best tool shed to keep your gear safely stored

The best wheelie bin storage for your garden

Best garden log stores to protect wood all year-round

Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens Magazine, an all-rounder. When she’s not writing about houseplants, she’s tending to her own growing collection…