Old garden hoses belong to that category of items that seem to be no longer needed, but it’s a shame to throw them away. If you show imagination and a creative approach, you can turn old junk that takes up space in your garage or closet into practical and beautiful things.
Assembling structures from hoses is not difficult - just connect them layer by layer with cable ties and trim off the protruding ends, so children will also be happy to join in this work: a hand-woven basket or garden hammock will become a cause for pride for the child, and besides, it will be much easier to use objects made with soul nicer than store bought ones.
Wicker furniture
The dense rubber of the hoses springs well, so they make comfortable wicker furniture, and no less comfortable than store-bought ones. In addition, unlike rattan, rubber does not scratch and does not leave snags on clothes.
To create a wicker chair or armchair, simply wrap an old furniture frame with a garden hose. During the work process, you should periodically “try on” the product so that the resulting furniture is not too rigid or, conversely, sagging.
A summer sun lounger can be made of any shape and diameter: to create it, rubber strips are stuffed onto a wooden frame, making sure that the tension of all layers is the same.Before creating a canvas from several multi-colored hoses, you should pre-cut the elements and select the optimal arrangement of colors.
When creating a swing from old hoses, it is important to pay attention to the connection of the rubber strips: to prevent the knots from coming undone under the weight of the “passenger,” they should be tightened tightly or further strengthened.
garden path
A path made of rubber hoses, unlike tiles, does not heat up in the sun and has a pleasant spring underfoot. To keep the elements in place and not fall apart, you can strengthen each of them with 2-3 pegs driven between the turns of rubber closer to the edge of the “tile”. For the winter, such a path can be easily dismantled, rinsed and stored.
Country house decoration
A blank wall of a house or shed can be decorated with a bright composition of garden hoses of different colors, or a pattern can be laid out from a single-color material and painted with paints suitable for rubber. The finished composition can be supplemented with pots of flowers, garden figurines or homemade figurines made from plastic bottles or painted pebbles.
To design the gate, use a hose, cut in half lengthwise, which is attached to the door leaf with glue. Small elements, such as leaves or flowers, can be used purchased or cut from the remains of a hose in the same way.
Baskets for harvest or small items
Rubber baskets are light and comfortable, and the elastic inner surface will not allow delicate fruits or vegetables to wrinkle. The diameter of the container and the design of the handles can be made to any size depending on what you plan to use the braided wire for.
If you lay a soft mat on the bottom of the basket, you will get a comfortable bed or carrier for your pet, and large-diameter containers will become convenient organizers for small items on the shelves of a barn or garage.
Various rugs
A large mat for a garden shower, woven from hoses, dries quickly, does not slip thanks to the relief from the screeds, and easily allows water to pass through it. If you put a thick blanket on top of such a rubber mat, you will get a comfortable bed on which you can sunbathe without fear of catching a cold on the cold ground or having your back crushed by hard pebbles.
Practical doormats for the front door can also be made by twisting the hose in a spiral to the desired diameter, or weaving it in any pattern using the macrame technique. Such rugs are easy to wash or shake out from dirt, and their spaces between the turns will allow dirt and sand to pass through, leaving the mat itself clean.
Wicker fence
A large garden fence, a low fence around the front garden or small wicker flowerbeds made from old hoses will be equally practical: rubber is not subject to corrosion or rotting. You can weave the fence fabric either in the traditional way or with an original pattern using the macrame technique.
You can choose hoses of different colors to create a harmonious color scheme that matches the color of the country house or the plants in the flowerbed, or you can paint the finished fence with paints suitable for rubber.If you use a reinforced hose to create a braided fence, then such a fence will last for many years: it will not fade in the sun or crack under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Making something new out of old items is not only a way to save money and have fun while working, but also shows concern for the environment. In addition, any garden furniture or various useful equipment made with your own hands will exactly meet the needs of their manufacturers.
