When temperatures start dropping, most gardeners focus on protecting their plants, covering delicate shrubs, and putting away gardening tools. However, there’s one simple fall maintenance task that’s easy to overlook: draining your garden hose. Leaving water trapped inside a hose during freezing weather can damage the hose itself and potentially contribute to expensive plumbing problems.
The good news is that winterizing garden hoses doesn’t require special equipment, expensive supplies, or much time. According to the American Red Cross, homeowners should disconnect, drain, and store outdoor hoses before cold weather arrives to help protect their plumbing. Here’s why this small chore matters and how to do it correctly.
