Forget Pricey Lights: Reuse An Old Hose To Illuminate Garden Paths With A Clever DIY

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A sturdy rubber garden hose can give you a good five to 10 years of service, but sometimes, hoses spring leaks prematurely or meet an untimely end at the blades of a rogue lawn mower or the wheels of a vehicle. They're still useful in the garden, though, especially if you're struggling to figure out your next decorative update. For instance, you can use cut-up sections of the hose for hanging outdoor string lights in whimsical arched shapes along your garden paths, just like TikTok creator Samii Smith. Simply thread each end of the hose section onto a yard stake, stick them in the ground so the hose forms an arch, and attach regular string lights to the curved sections to create quick, easy, and off-beat garden lighting.

The obvious benefit is that you're keeping your non-functioning hose out of the landfill. But you're also saving a lot of money over commercially produced garden lighting, especially if you already have string lights on hand. Pick up an inexpensive pack of plastic yard stakes, such as YANEYRIE Landscape Anchoring Spikes, or cut thick wooden spikes to use as supports.

Even better, this outdoor lighting idea is customizable to fit in almost anywhere. Besides lighting your walking paths, your DIY border could create edging around the yard, frame sections of a patio, or line planters to illuminate your favorite plants and garden accents. Adjust the lengths of the hose sections to change the size of the arches, and decide how close together you want to insert the stakes to make the curve taller or wider. You can even spray paint the hose to help it blend in with the light string and surrounding features.

The first step in making your DIY light-up edging is cutting the hose into sections — one piece for each arch. While the original creator uses a jigsaw, a sharp utility knife will also work. To determine the length, bend part of the hose into an arch shape to get an idea of the size you want. Cut a test piece, and adjust the length as needed to finalize your desired arch shape and size. You could also make the end arches slightly taller or alternate between short and tall arches to change the look. After cutting your pieces, spray paint the hose sections, if desired, to complement your light strings and your overall landscape lighting design.

@wambamsam_

Christmas lights hack! ✨ We used an old hose that was leaking. You could also use hula hoops, or irrigation drip tubing! #christmaslighthack #christmashack #christmas #christmasonabudget #christmas2022 #christmaslights #christmasdecor #christmasdecorations #whitelights #foryoupage #fypシ #outdoorchristmasdecor #cheapchristmasdecorations #cheapchristmas #budgeting

♬ A Mad Russian's Christmas (Instrumental) – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Slide a stake into each cut end of your first hose section, leaving a few inches sticking out of the ends. Push one stake into the ground. Then, arch the hose how you want it to look, and press the other stake into the ground to hold that shape. Repeat with the rest of the sections.

The original design features the arches right next to each other, but you can leave spaces between them — just know that the strand lights will show along the ground. Measure the distance between the two stakes to keep the arches uniform and sitting at the same height. Then, wrap the strands of lights along the arches, and zip-tie them in place or secure them with electrical tape. Alternatively, if your garden hose is clear or translucent, you could try running LED light strips inside the tube rather than around the outside.