The Easiest Way To Keep A Garden Hose Organized Using A Simple Wood Pallet

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There are lots of different devices for keeping a garden hose organized, but they can often be either expensive or flimsy. Fortunately, making your own hanger from pallet wood is an alternative that costs almost nothing. It's the kind of simple woodworking project even beginners can tackle with confidence, and the result will be both sturdy and durable.

Obviously you'll need a pallet. If you don't already have one, there are plenty of places to find free pallets near you. There is no shortage, so you don't need to pick up any old junk, but before you grab one, check the markings. All pallets have them, and many are for things like country of origin or load capacity. However, some tell you how it was made or what it was used for. MB means it was treated with a toxic pesticide called methyl bromide. CP means it was used to transport chemicals. They might have been harmless, but there's no way to tell. It's best to avoid any pallet marked with either of these.

As for tools and supplies, any saw will do, but a circular saw is convenient and among the must-have power tools for first-time homeowners. You'll find dozens of DIY tasks for one around the home and yard, and you can pick up a corded model like the Skil 7-¼" circular saw for around forty bucks. You'll need a drill, screws, sandpaper, and glue. You might also want some kind of finish.

Standard US pallet boards are 3-½ inches wide, so pry a board loose or cut it off, then cut three pieces about a foot long each. These will be screwed together to form a 'U' that holds your hose. Applying glue to the joints makes them stronger but isn't strictly necessary. You don't have to sand everything smooth, but it's a good idea to sand the edges to remove any splinters.

If you put the whole thing together right away, it may be awkward attaching it to the wall or fence. So assemble an 'L' shape first. It's worth pre-drilling to avoid splitting the wood. Next, drill holes in the back to attach it. If you have an old hanger that's broken, take the spacings from that. If you don't, drill holes about 1-½ inches down from the top and the same distance in from both ends. If you're attaching it to a fence, you can just drive screws in. If it's a masonry wall, you'll need to drill holes with a hammer drill and insert wall anchors first. Once it's in place, screw on the front. Pallet wood is soft, so sink the screw heads flush with the surface.

If your garden hose organizer will be out of sight, there's no need to add a finish, but you could seal, varnish, or paint it if you like. As you have plenty of wood left, you also could try some other creative ways to upcycle wood pallets for the garden.