Turn An Old Rusted Pot Into A Clever Way To Store Garden Hoses

A garden hose displayed in the open is certainly useful, but it isn't exactly beautiful garden decor. When it is left stretched across a path or coiled on a patio, it makes your garden look messy and can be a tripping hazard. There's a simple fix in the form of an old, discarded garden pot you likely already have lying around. With a little love, a large planter could easily have a second life as a hose holder. Plus, by using something you already own, you can save money by not having to buy dedicated garden hose storage.

Ready to say goodbye to the eyesore of garden hose clutter? In a Tiktok by Tulsi of Oak Corner Diaries, we are shown how to do exactly that. The creator turns a worn and cracked metal planter into a decorative container for a garden hose. First, she cleans and paints the pot. Then she coils the hose inside the restored container — nozzle, fittings, and all.

It is a clever way to reuse broken plant pots, particularly those planters that have become too damaged to grow anything in successfully. Depending on how you decorate the old container, it can look right at home beside a brick wall or among patio plants. The pot does all the visual work of concealing the hose while keeping it close at hand for watering. And because this project only takes a few steps, with no elaborate construction or complicated assembly required, you could easily pull it off in an afternoon.

There are a few considerations to bear in mind when choosing the right metal pot for this project. First, the planter you choose needs to have a wide mouth and enough room inside to accommodate your garden hose and its fittings. Too many cracks or too much corrosion may make the container unstable and therefore unsuitable for the job. A sound, if slightly imperfect, container is a far better choice than one that's completely falling apart.

Once you've found the right pot, you'll need to get it cleaned up.  First, use a rag to remove any loose soil that might be lingering inside, and then wash it with warm soapy water. Use a wire brush or sandpaper to remove any rust and flaking paint and let the pot dry completely. From there, apply a rust-inhibiting primer before adding a coat of exterior metal paint, or use a suitable direct-to-metal paint that offers rust and weather protection.

If the planter doesn't already have drainage holes, drill a few holes into the base to let rainwater or water from the hose escape rather than going stagnant inside. When coiling your garden hose inside the pot, avoid forcing it into tight loops. Any sharp bends may damage the hose over time. Also, draining a hose is a must before the first frost, as is disconnecting it from the spigot. If temperatures drop below freezing with water still in an attached garden hose, you risk damaging your plumbing.