Garden Hose Nozzle

Most hoses should have a garden hose nozzle at the end. There are a few types available, but they all basically let you control the flow of water from the hose.

Unfortunately my kids are always playing with the hose and the nozzles we have are often lost or damaged. And a hose without a nozzle has very little control over water flow.

In my case, it's fine for watering the veggies we have in containers near the hose, but it doesn't allow me to make a fine mist, a wide spray, or a jet stream of water for distance, such as when I'm trying to wet running children or water the somewhat distant Northern Magnolia Trees we have in the front yard.

Fortunately you can buy different types of nozzles easily (at least in season) at many places including hardware stores, home improvement stores, and department stores like Walmart and Target (and of course online).

The most common, at least historically, is the straightforward twist nozzle, for example the Gilmour Solid Brass Twist Nozzle. You change the flow of water depending on your and your plants needs, from a fine mist to a jet stream of water by twisting the nozzle, which varies the flow from all the way open to shut.

The Gilmour model has a precise tip angle to eliminates side spray, and adjusts from a "fine spray to needle stream to heavy rinse" and it's pretty representative of this type of nozzle. It takes three turns to go from closed to full open.

Also extremely common is the pistol grip garden hose nozzle. Here you usually get what you pay for, and I've gone through lots of cheap plastic pieces of crap for $4-$5 that didn't last. One good one is the Claber Metal-Jet Pistol Garden Hose Nozzle.

As extremely positive reviewer Gordon from DC says, "First, paying $30 for a nozzle is outrageous. It seems crazy. Remember, though, that you will get what you pay for. This isn't a $4.99 plastic knockoff found at your home improvement stores." Click Here to see his full review.

One absurdly popular nozzle, and not very expensive, is the Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle. It's a twist type nozzle plus. It has five different settings and is "virtually indestructible and leak-proof." It certainly is well built and extremely functional!

Next time you're in a hardware store, home improvement store, or department store, go to the gardening department or center and browse the garden hose nozzle options. You'll be surprised at the array and the functionality, and the most outrageously expensive ones are still pretty cheap! Do remember that the el-cheapos however often have a very short life before they break.