How to disguise a garden hose – 4 stylish and clever ways to hide a hose and keep your yard looking its best this summer

A garden hose is a staple item in our yards, but it's uncommon to find one that doesn't become a bit of an eyesore. Whether it's bulky and large to store, has a fluorescent bright casing, or simply has nowhere to go, a hideous hose can have a serious impact on the overall look and feel of our garden space.

Fortunately, expert gardeners have all been there and have a few tricks up their sleeve in terms of how to disguise a garden hose, while still following proper practice on how to maintain a garden hose to keep it in good working order.

Any of these expert-approved tips and tricks will work wonders in toning down your hose's visibility, or perhaps even help to make it a sight-worthy centerpiece.

1. Use a hose hideaway

A hose hideaway is one of the most popular ways to disguise an unsightly hose in a yard, as they come in many shapes, styles and forms. Whether your yard is a neutral haven or a vibrant landscape of color, there's bound to be something to help your essential gardening tool to blend in.

Jessica Mercer, plant expert at Plant Addicts, says, 'If you coil your hose inside of a hose hideaway like a lidded box or oversized planter from the outside, it'll just look decorative.'

The hideaway easylink kink-free garden hose reel from Wayfair is a great example, coming in a sleek modern black or muted brown colorway.

You simply store a garden hose in there, winding it around the built-in reel, and you have the option to tuck the head in or out of the box.

This metal container hose pot from Wayfair is another stunning option, coming in two natural colors.

Jessica Mercer

Jessica Mercer, PhD, is the Senior Content Marketing Coordinator and plant expert for Plant Addicts. As a 'plant collector', Jessica enjoys growing many different plants and learning about the best cultural practices for each. Writing for Plant Addicts is a real joy for her, as she can use her science background to research interesting plant topics. She carefully considers how to best present the information to other gardeners, with a focus on sustainability and the environment.

2. Hide the hose inside of functional furniture

Stashing your hose inside of any dual-purpose furniture piece, such as a storage bench, deck box or outdoor cabinet, will both optimize your outdoor space, as well as keep your hose out of sight when not in use.

'If you're planning to hide your hose away inside the best outdoor furniture on a permanent basis, I recommend this step-by-step so you don't have to keep taking it in and out when it's needed,' says Jessica.

'Drill a one-inch exit hole low on the back panel, line it with a rubber grommet, and you can keep the hose attached to the tap while the furniture provides seating or a serving surface above.'

The Suncast SS601 small patio deck box available at Target will double up seamlessly as a patio furniture idea and a surface for serving or displaying a potted plant.

3. Use your window wells

If your home has a window well, a recessed area below your window that's typically partially underground, hiding your hose there is an ideal use for the space.

Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, says, 'Houses with window wells can be utilized for rolling up a hose.

The window well cannot be too deep (less than three feet) otherwise it will be hard to reach into it to get your hose back out.

The window well also needs to be wide enough to accommodate the hose and the glass of the basement window needs to be strong, preferably glass block, to avoid potential damage.'

A quick checklist for avoiding garden hose mistakes to see whether you can store your hose in your home's window well is:

1. Is my window well relatively shallow?

2. Is my window well near sturdy glass and other sturdy materials that aren't too old and prone to breakage?

3. Is the window well deep enough to fully disguise my garden hose?

You can either sit your hose directly in the well or wrap it up on a mounted reel like this aluminum wall-mounted hose holder from Wayfair.

Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture and leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices at PHS. Prior to arriving at PHS, Andrew worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Chanticleer Garden, and the Scott Arboretum for a tenure of 27 years, and has received many commendations for his work. In 2015, Andrew published his first book, “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias.” 

4. Hide the hose behind plants

Placing your hose behind tall plants such as bulky trees and hedges is the perfect way to keep it out of sight but still somewhere convenient to use.

What's more, you may already have some large plants in containers or low-maintenance hedge plants that would do the job.

'Plants are one of the most effective ways to disguise a garden hose,' says Andrew. 'A low hedge can be planted in front of the hose to help screen it away but still provide easy access.

It's important to remember that since the hose will only be out during the growing season, either an evergreen or deciduous shrub is best to opt for.

Some ideas could be the Virginia Sweetspire, Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’; the inkberry, Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’; summersweet, Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ or Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’.

These native options are dense and full, low-maintenance shrubs that will provide adequate screening for any hoses in the garden.'

If your hose isn't hanging up on a mounted rack behind your plants and instead lying on the floor, experts recommend covering a patch of ground with wood chips like these 100% natural cedar shavings from Amazon.

This way, it won't be sitting on muddy ground that becomes increasingly damp after use.

If you found out that your garden hose is looking worse for wear while seeking to disguise it, hold fire before tossing it away. Here are 4 ways to repurpose a hose that actually work, giving it a new sense of purpose in your yard.

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