Don't Throw Out That Old Garden Hose - Turn It Into A Genius DIY Trellis Instead

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Garden hoses can last several years, but when they're done, they're done. Things like holes, ripped inner tubes, and cracks from excessive bending or twisting can leave them in a state of disrepair. It's easy to look at an old garden hose taking up space in your yard and think, "You need to go." But, you may be surprised to know that there are several ways to repurpose a garden hose around your house. 

One way to do this is by transforming that old garden hose into a trellis for the plants in your garden or yard. The hose can be cut up and secured to garden stakes in vertical rows. It doesn't matter if you have wooden dowels, metal, or plastic stakes for your plants; you can combine your cut water hose pieces with these other materials to save money — something that can come in handy if your climbing plant grows past its trellis, leaving you in a pinch to create more rows. So, if you have an old water hose that's seen its share of summer days, this simple gardening hack might be right up your alley.

In addition to the garden hose and stakes, you'll also need Hillman galvanized hobby wire and a pair of Fiskars heavy-duty scissors. First, decide what size trellis is needed to fully support your plants. This will help you determine the number of stakes you'll need. It'll also give you an idea of how much of the garden hose you'll need to cut. 

Next, plant two stakes in the ground across from each other, and then secure one at the top, connecting them. Measure your water hose and cut it into enough pieces to lay them in evenly spaced rows from the bottom to the top connecting stake. Next, thread your wire through each piece. If you'd rather not thread it, when cutting the hose, cut each piece into a length that goes a couple of inches past the stakes on both sides. Then, secure the hose onto the stakes, creating a square lashing on the ends.

Another possible option is to poke a hole straight through the top and bottom of the hose on both ends. Then thread the wire through the holes and tie it to the stakes. This is one of the easiest types of DIY trellises you can build for your garden. And the cool thing about it is that you can use almost anything as a frame — an old screen door frame, PVC pipes, bamboo, or thick sticks from your yard. You can also spray paint the trellis frame the same color as the hose to give your DIY trellis a more curated look, and less of a makeshift feel.