Key Points
Use decorative containers, outdoor storage boxes, or wall-mounted hose reels to hide hoses stylishly.Tuck hoses behind shrubs or use small screens and fencing to blend with landscaping.Choose dark green or gray hoses to make them less noticeable in the yard.
Having a garden hose on hand in your backyard is a necessity for most, but staring at it all day when it isn’t in use obviously isn’t ideal. If your garden hose is cramping your backyard style, it’s understandable to feel a bit frustrated.
“Sometimes a garden hose is the only thing that distracts from an otherwise perfectly kept yard,” Dallen Russell, a remodeling advisor with InSite Builders & Remodeling, says. “A landscaped patio may have every detail in place except for that traditionally bright green hose sitting in a tangled heap.”
Wondering how exactly you will ever be able to conceal your hose so that it’s easy to access when needed, yet not sticking out in plain sight? As it turns out, there’s no need to worry too much; pros have several suggestions for how to expertly camouflage a garden hose in the yard while still ensuring it’s easy to reach.
Meet the Expert
Dallen Russell is a remodeling advisor with InSite Builders & Remodeling.
Tracy Morris is the founder of Tracy Morris Design.
Jordan Clough is an associate principal at Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture.
Store Your Hose in a Simple Container
One clever way to store your garden hose is to place it inside a container, Tracy Morris, the founder of Tracy Morris Design, explains.
“I love using hose pots or decorative containers that blend into the landscape,” she says, citing stone, copper, and aged terracotta as possibilities.
The style you choose is entirely up to you based on the shades that are already at play in your backyard.
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Opt for a Multi-Purpose Container
Another option is to use a container that is a bit more sizable and can serve other purposes in your yard.
“Exterior storage boxes can double as benches or small cabinets, providing both functionality and concealment,” Russell says. Instant backup seating has never looked better.
Try a Wall-Mounted Solution
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dalton00 / Getty Images
Morris is also a proponent of wall-mounted hose reels. She recommends going with a finish that complements the hardware on the exterior of your home. Doing so, she says, will keep things tidy without feeling out of place.
Russell also likes to use hose reels and is partial to the Giraffe Tools garden hose reel in particular.
“The hose locks at any length during use, then retracts smoothly into an enclosed case, keeping it completely hidden when not needed,” he says.
Tuck the Hose Away Thoughtfully
Another tactic that Morris recommends is to use the greenery in your yard to your advantage (or plant a bit more if necessary) and tuck your hose behind shrubs to hide it.
Jordan Clough, associate principal at Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture, agrees with this tactic, noting that shrubs such as cherry laurel, dwarf arborvitae cultivars, and other evergreen shrubs are all excellent plants for the job.
“They really help the enclosure blend into the rest of the landscaping,” he says.
Morris also notes that purchasing a small screen and using that to fence in your hose when it isn’t in use is another viable option. Clough is also all for using a wood screening fence, which he will match to the wood fencing in a yard for as uniform a look as possible. And a wood fence isn’t just useful for tucking away hoses.
“The enclosure can also help contain things like oversized boxes and/or recycling bins, or hide utility meters,” Clough says.
Strategically Choose Your Hose Color
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Cappi Thompson / Getty Images
Perhaps the simplest solution of all, and the easiest to implement if you’re purchasing a new hose, is simply to be strategic with the color you choose. Russell recommends going with a deep green or dark gray style; doing so will make it barely noticeable in your overall landscape, he says.
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