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What kind of hose is best for an organic garden? A water hose seems like a mundane thing, but it fills in the gaps to provide water for your plants when rainfall is insufficient.

I didn’t really pay that much attention to my garden hoses at first - but I always noticed that the water smelled weird coming out of them when they were new. Even after months of use, the funky smell would come back on really hot days.

I began to ask myself what that unsettling odor was, and if it was possible for whatever was causing it to then leach into my garden.

It can be tempting to just buy whatever hose is cheapest and meets your length requirements at your local garden supply store. Bonus points if it comes in a fun color.

Over the years, I've experimented with a variety of hoses. Initially, I opted for budget-friendly options that seemed perfect on paper, but I quickly learned their limitations. They always kinked easily and, after just one summer, would leak at the connectors. Plus, if I wouldn't drink out of them, I wasn't sure if I should be using them to water my garden produce.

As you’ll see in this guide, there are several reasons to invest in quality materials. In this way, you know that your plants are getting clean and uncontaminated water.

Why Choose a Non-Toxic Hose?

I understand that chemicals are pervasive in our modern world and avoiding them entirely can feel impossible. I get pretty disheartened when it seems like nearly every tool these days has a California Prop warning to worry about.

Yet, I'm hopeful when a non-toxic option is available for something I use in my garden. While I can't change what's unavailable, I can choose wisely when options do exist.

After all, if you're committed to organic gardening, it makes sense to make your water source as clean as possible, too.

Key points to look for:

• Eliminate Lead Contamination: Lead can live in the metal parts of the hose, like the nozzle and other hardware pieces. Look for hoses that have lead-free nozzles and connectors.
• Avoid Phthalates: This group of chemicals is found in plastics and can disrupt the endocrine system, according to Columbia University. Choose a hose that is labeled phthalate-free.
• Avoid chemical leaching with BPA-free designs: Columbia University also notes that BPA, another chemical found in plastics, can disrupt the endocrine system. It also can potentially lead to other health issues.
• Protect Against UV damage: The outer coating of the hose can be UV-treated to improve longevity. Look for "UV-resistant" on the label. This helps make sure that the plastic in the hose doesn’t break down when exposed to direct sunlight.
• Select Food-Grade Polyurethane Materials: Frequently named the healthiest plastic, look for polyether-based polyurethane that is FDA food grade, and has been marked as safe by NSF, an independent public health organization which performs rigorous testing.
• Support Local Manufacturing: You can better see the supply chain and understand what materials are in the hose when it’s manufactured in the your home country.

Oh yeah, and it’s got to actually work well as a garden hose:

• Long-Lasting Durability: You want a garden hose that isn’t going to break within the next few years. It should be strong, but flexible too. If it’s built to last, it’s more sustainable and affordable in the long run. Keeping your hose in good working order and out of the landfill is an eco-friendly solution.
• Hassle-free: Have you ever been watering the garden with a long hose and as you’re moving around, the water just stops due to a kink on the other side of the yard? It’s a hassle. Also you want it to be flexible, easy to move around and roll up - so it can’t weigh 100 pounds.
• Leak-Proof Connections: Water is a precious resource. It’s important to make sure that your hose doesn’t spring any leaks at connection points or even along the hose line itself.
• Efficient Water Pressure: Nothing’s more annoying than a hose and nozzle with low water pressure when you’re in a blazing hot greenhouse on a summer’s day. Ask me how I know.

What I actually use in my garden: Premium Drinking Water Safe Garden Hose - Standard 5/8”

Top Pick

I have three of these hoses in the 100ft length. I love the reassurance that I'm not adding any weird chemicals to my soil and plants, and the hoses work really well. Over the last three years, these have out-performed any other hose I've used.

Get Your Non-Toxic Hose Here

Image from Eartheasy

This is the garden hose that I use in my garden. I got the 100 ft length in eggplant which worked so well that I ended up getting two more of the same model in olive green. With all the different watering systems we have, it’s really nice to have the color coordination going so that I know which hose to turn on for different areas of my yard. This is a great high-pressure hose option for bigger gardens like mine.

They connect together seamlessly without leaks, which is a plus when I am watering areas of my garden far away from my water source. While my other hoses would leak after just one year of use, these hoses have held up strong for several years, and I anticipate that they will last for quite some time into the future.

When my dogs come up to the hose for a drink, or when I need to fill up my bird bath or goat water buckets, it’s nice to know that this hose isn’t leaching anything into the water.

Pros of this 5/8” hose:

Non-Toxic

This hose checks all the boxes: NSF and FDA drinking water approved, BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free, - it’s refreshing to find a lead-free garden hose.

Strength, Flexibility and Kink-Free Design

It’s discouraging to buy a hose only to have it break after a year or two. I’ve had several hoses from other brands break, and it seems so wasteful to have to replace them so frequently. In contrast, this 5/8” premium hose has lasted me for years and isn’t showing any signs of letting up.

Weather-resistance

Since it’s UV-treated, this hose holds up better to hot weather and direct sunlight. I notice when the temperatures are high that the water isn’t as hot as it would be with other hoses. I need to run the hose less in order to not distress my plants, which is a plus.

Appearance — who doesn’t love a purple hose?

Maybe this is just a personal opinion but the color options are fun and it’s nice to have options.

Cost  — relative to needing to replace yearly

It’s nice to find a hose that I don’t need to replace. While the upgrade is an initial investment, I know I’m saving money in the long run. While you’re paying more for this hose, the piece of mind knowing that it’s free from phthalates, PVC, etc., is worth it to me. What's nice to know is that there's a five-year manufacturer's warranty on the hose, if you're worried you won't like it.

Cons:

Can be difficult to roll up

One of the the only things that can be a little off-putting about this hose is that at first it can be hard to roll up. It has a bit of a memory of how it was packaged and really wants to go back to its original shape and not your hose reel’s.

However, after a few months of using the hose, I didn’t have this issue anymore. I think because it was laid out straight for a while as I was using it daily, it “forgot” its original shape and it’s a lot easier to tidy up now.

Cost — relative to other hoses

It might be overkill if you’re not watering edible plants and just have an ornamental garden.

More economical and lightweight: Premium Drinking Water Safe Garden Hose - Slim 7/16”

Top Pick

A more affordable food-grade garden hose option, that's lighter and easier to move around. Great for smaller gardens or as a back-up to drip irrigation.

Get Your Non-Toxic Hose Here

Image from Eartheasy

Overview

If cost is holding you back from getting the 5/8” hose, have a look at the 7/16” option. It’s the same materials, but just a thinner model. This is also great if you need to move your hose around on a daily basis, since it’s half the weight.

If you are connecting the hose to a sprinkler system or large drip irrigation setup, I’d recommend springing for the wider hose just due to the higher flow rate.

Pros:

Non-Toxic + Safe for Organic Gardening

This hose is made from the same drinking water safe materials as the 5/8” diameter.

Cost

At around $1 per foot, this thinner hose costs half of the wider hose.

Lightweight

Weighing 3 lbs per 50 feet length, this narrower option is half the weight of the 5/8” diameter option. This also makes it easier to coil up and store.

Cons

Lower water pressure

If you aren’t hooking your hose up to a drip irrigation system or sprinkler, this might not be an issue for you. But this hose diameter has a lower flow rate when compared to the bigger model.

Best Garden Hose for Water Conservation: Premium Polyurethane Soaker Hose

Sustainable Choice

An eco-friendly option that will help you to save tons of water in your garden - a must for anyone with limited water access. One of the few food-grade soaker irrigation hoses out there.

Buy Now

Image from Eartheasy

Pros:

Ease of Set-up

For most gardens, a soaker hose or two will be able to cover their watering needs. When compared to traditional drip line irrigation systems, soaker hoses are a lot more user-friendly, especially for raised beds. There’s less pieces to connect and maintain.

Saves Water and Time

Watering your entire garden with a sprayer nozzle can take up a lot of time and also likely uses more water than a soaker hose system does. Since a soaker hose delivers water to the surface level only and at a slow rate, there’s no waste.

Does not Kink

If you turn on your soaker hose, it’s likely you’re not going to stand there and watch for a half hour to make sure it’s working correctly. However, if the hose is kinked somewhere, it’s not going to do its job - and you likely won’t realize. With a soaker hose like this that doesn’t kink, this means you can be certain water is getting to your plants that you worked so hard to grow.

Easy to Move Around and Flexible

As your garden changes throughout the season, you want a watering system that can adjust easily with different plantings and spacings. Since soaker hoses are easy to adjust, you don’t have to re-do your whole system as you transition from summer crops to fall plantings.

Even Watering

Sometimes soaker hoses can water some areas of your garden heavily while leaving others dry. This polyurethane soaker waters consistently throughout the whole length of the hose.

Cons

Might not be the best option for very large gardens

If you have a very large space with a few dozen garden beds, this might not be the most practical option in terms of cost and effectiveness. Those with market-garden sized operations might want to look into other options.

Mistakes to Avoid When Caring For Your Garden Hose

No matter how well-made a garden hose is, it is still good to take care of it, especially as the weather shifts. Here are some tips to extend the life of your hose.

• Drain fully before a frost: You don’t want any water freezing in your garden hose, as this can cause it to leak or break.
• Store it over winter: Similar to the above tip, you’ll likely want to keep your hose in a shed or storage area over winter, especially if you’re in an area with frequent low temperatures. This will help your hose not to be wet and frozen.
• Protect in the summer: While these hoses are UV-treated, it’s always a good idea to roll up your garden hoses and store them in a shady spot when temperatures are high.

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