If you need to water your landscape a long distance from a water spigot, you'll either need to buy a longer garden hose, or you'll need to connect hoses of shorter lengths. You may find, however, that the hoses are of two different diameters and won't screw together securely. Fortunately, there's an easy remedy. You don't need to buy new hoses; you just need to pick up a few inexpensive materials at your local hardware or gardening centre.

  • If you need to water your landscape a long distance from a water spigot, you'll either need to buy a longer garden hose, or you'll need to connect hoses of shorter lengths.

Connect the garden hose with the largest diameter to the faucet, even if that means buying an adaptor to make it fit properly. By using the smaller hose further down the length of the hoses, water pressure will maintain better.

Measure the inside diameter of any garden hose needing an adaptor. Most garden hoses are 1/2, 5/8 or 3/4 of an inch in diameter.

Notice whether you'll need an adaptor for the male or female end of the hose. The male end has threads on it that screw inside another hose or spigot. The female end has threads on the inside, allowing another hose or a spigot to be fastened inside.

  • Notice whether you'll need an adaptor for the male or female end of the hose.
  • The female end has threads on the inside, allowing another hose or a spigot to be fastened inside.

Purchase a hose adaptor of the appropriate size and type (male or female) at your local garden or hardware supply store.

Screw the adaptor into one hose. For example, if one hose has a female end and the adaptor has a male end, screw the adaptor into the hose, twisting clockwise.

Screw the other end of the adaptor into the second hose, twisting clockwise.

TIP

Choosing kink-resistant garden hoses is especially important when you're using two hoses screwed together. Few things are more frustrating than struggling with a long hose that keeps kinking and "holding back" water. It's a good idea to choose hoses and adaptors of solid brass. They last longer, are rust resistant, and are less likely to cause headaches in the garden. Always recoil garden hoses after use. If you plan to frequently use two hoses screwed together, it's acceptable to store them this way. The adaptor should not interfere with garden hose reels. Always allow the water to drip out of long garden hoses before coiling them for storage. If you're using a nozzle, this is easily done by continuing to spray until the water stops coming. Consider purchasing a rubber washer (designed for garden hoses) anywhere an adaptor will screw into a female end. This will help prevent leaking and spraying, and therefore water waste.