Hello new or potential garden hose owner!
Welcome to GHS-101!
This simple crash course in proper irrigation safety procedures should prove to be both enlightening and useful. Pay close attention and don’t be afraid to review topics that you don’t understand. In this class we will examine the three fundamental principles of Garden Hose Safety.
1.) Purchasing and Replacing Your Hose
When purchasing your hose be sure to find a hose that fits your needs as a gardener and a homeowner. Look for a hose that is either the equivalent of or greater than the length of your yard. Also keep in mind that the hose you purchase should be non-toxic so that you don’t have to worry about poisoning on a hot summer day when you are in need of an outdoor drink. Be sure to buy nylon reinforced and temperature flexible for best quality. And when you think that you have chosen the perfect hose ask yourself the following
questions (just to be sure). Is this the hose I want spitting in my face on a hot summer day? If I buy this hose will I be removing it from its natural environment?
And finally: Is this hose in it for the long run? If you are sure that the answers to each of those questions is positive then that hose is perfect for you!
If you discover a leak in your hose, stop the leak quickly or out the hose goes!
2.) Properly Operating the Garden Hose
General Safety Tips
Turn off your spicket (spigot) before plugging in your garden hose. The spicket does not need to be on and could be dangerous if it is turned on before attaching the hose. When the spicket is on it emits water profusely. If you are trying to connect the hose with the spicket on the water pressure will fight your cause and commence to spray you without mercy. Anything from pneumonia to drowning could occur during those crucial moments before you reach to turn off the spicket. Be cautious when first affixing your hose. It’s a matter of life and lack thereof.
Keep your hose at a moderate pressure
So water won’t too quickly flow. If water is strong and it’s aiming at you Surely enough down you go!
When transporting your hose be aware of the position of the hose in relation to your body. “Why” you may ask yourself. I have one word for you: Strangulation. That’s right strangulation. If the hose is positioned around your neck during the time that you are trying to bring the hose to its destination the hose may cut off your air supply and terminate your life. In addition, if the hose is wrapped around your legs during transportation you may trip and fall, which may or may not cause a concussion. Your Garden Hose
is a wonderful tool, Feeding your garden and filling your pool. But should your hose around the neck tangle
Surely enough that same hose will strangle!
3.) Storing Your Hose
The best place to store a hose is on a hose reel. If you don’t already own one I recommend that you buy one. However vital the hose reel may be it also comes with its dangers. It’s just another place for your garden hose to betray you. When winding your garden hose onto the reel be sure that your arm doesn’t become entangled in the hose and get wound onto the reel. I needn’t tell you that in such a case the victim will feel extreme pain and possibly require counseling.
Always before you shut down your hose after a long day of tiresome irrigation be sure that the spigot is turned completely off and the hose is wound properly on the hose reel.
If your hose is left on without one to attend, The grave situation is one you can’t mend. Your yard will get sloshy and dirt turn to mud. Next thing you know there’s a nation-wide flood!
Any temperature below zero (Celsius) has a very good chance of impacting the health of your hose. It is vital that before the temperature reaches below zero you put the hose away in either a garage or shed, and (if at all necessary) in your own home. The ideal place to store your hose is in the attic or basement. Never place your hose in any section of the hose that will experience extreme cold or stores chemicals. An example of an area where you would not want to store your hose is your freezer. For those of you who live in an apartment the best place to put your hose is in either a spare room or warm spot under you bed. Be sure when storing your hose in a carpeted area that the hose is wrapped in tarp. If this precaution is not taken the hose may leak onto your carpet and make a nasty mess.
A Hose poorly stored is a hose no more
Random Advice:
Should your grass catch fire I would not advise that you extinguish the fire with your fire hose. I would recommend that you instead use a very large stick and beat the fire repeatedly until it is finally put out. Should you choose to use your fire hose under these circumstances I must warn you that
water can and will be emitted from the hose at an uncontrollable rate and possibly cause bodily harm to you or those around you. A large stick, preferably with a rabbit hide attached to the end, is the safest tool for
putting out a grass fire.
A Brief Quiz:
True or False
1.)You should always operate your hose at full force
2.)You should continue to use a hose beyond repair
3.)The position of your hose in relation to
your body is not important when transporting the hose
4.)The best place to keep your hose is in a plastic pot
If you answered “False” to each of the above questions you are ready to move
on to…
Advanced Placement GHS.
Mild winters and sunny summers make it feasible for San Diego homeowners to garden year round. Organic gardening is particularly beneficial to this ocean side community that is located between the beautiful ocean and the mountain peaks. Soil condition in San Diego can be an issue. Those in the mountains may find plenty of rocks, and it will be necessary for most people to water their gardens often to keep soil from drying out.
Utilizing Rain Water to your Advantage
One of the most beneficial things gardeners can do is to accumulate rainwater in rain barrels and use it to their gain. Rainfall in San Diego is often spotty. The majority of rainfall happens in January, February and March, while summers are likely to be to be quite dry, in particular the months of June, July and August. It is beneficial to place rain containers under your gutter downspouts to collect the water to wet your garden during dry spells.
Many companies give away or sell their used plastic barrels that can be turned into exceptional rain barrels. Reusing these barrels is a good way to recycle. If you are adamantly against plastic, some garden stores sell wooden whiskey barrels that can be employed. They will be more expensive, but they function as good rain barrels. While at your neighborhood hardware store, you can buy spigots to be installed in each barrel.
Spigots are easy to install. Start by drilling a hole that is the same diameter as the spigot, unscrew the nut from the spigot and place the faucet side on the outside of the barrel. On the interior of the barrel, turn the nut back on and a washer to the spigot end and ensure it is a tight fit to stop any water from escaping. If necessary, add some waterproof sealant to create a leak-free fit. Once you have a spigot put in, you can connect a garden hose to your barrels for watering your gardens. Simply turn on the spigot and gravity pushes the water out of the hose.
Utilizing Organic Compost for Cultivating Plants
The next phase for your organic garden will be establishing productive soil for your plants. You’ll need to work the soil, either by hand or with a rototiller. Not only is the use of a shovel more “green” because there is no need to run a gas-powered machine, but you will also get exercise. Add compost to the soil as you turn it to produce rich loam for your vegetation.
Compost bins are easy to put together, or you can purchase them from neighborhood garden supply stores. Grass trimmings, raked leaves and biodegradable garbage like fruit and vegetable trimmings make terrific compost. When first beginning, you may need to buy organic compost, but as you acquire your own compost, you will conserve money by having your own compost. Regarding your compost bin, make sure you stir up composting matter every few days so that the bacteria are consistently exposed to the sun and oxygen.
Plant Crops Suitable to the Seasons
Perhaps the most essential aspect of gardening in San Diego is choosing the right crops. Plants such as broccoli, spinach, peas, onions, lettuce, garlic and other greens such as cooler weather. Save these crops for the wet, winter months. Tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini and other squashes like heat, so they make good summer crops as long as you keep them well watered.
Make sure your plants have plenty of exposure to the sun. Plants need sunlight to do well, so inspect your yard to make sure your garden area receives a good deal of sun exposure, keeping in mind the various seasons. You’ll also want to position it near enough the water barrels for hoses to be able to reach.
Begin with the basics and work your way up to a larger garden. As you become accustomed to the daily routines of watering and weed pulling, you will gain confidence to have a larger garden in the years to come.
