Daily gardening tip · Southern hemisphere · Tuesday 29 September 2026 · early spring
Check Your Hose and Nozzle Connections
Checking your hose connections now prevents wasted water and low water pressure before your spring watering schedule begins.
10 minuteseasywatering
Unscrew your hose from the outdoor tap and remove any spray nozzles or attachments.
Look inside the female ends of the hose and nozzles to inspect the rubber washers for cracks or stiffness.
Pry out any damaged or dry washers and press a new rubber washer flat into the connection.
Wrap a small strip of thread seal tape clockwise around the male threads of the tap and hose ends.
Screw all the connections back together firmly by hand.
Turn on the tap and spray the hose to ensure there are no drips or sprays at the joints.
Why it works
Worn rubber washers shrink and crack over winter, which allows water to escape under pressure. Replacing these cheap seals and using thread tape ensures all the water goes directly to your plants instead of pooling uselessly at the tap.
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