Don’t throw out that old garden hose—turn it into a handy backyard feature

We may earn a commission on purchases made through links.

Garden hoses are usually made of durable materials such as rubber or vinyl, but sometimes they don’t last very long. After sitting out in the hot sun and getting kinked or bent, some garden hoses will leak quickly. Fortunately, this Geniusly you’ve never thought of reusing an old garden hose Keep it away from landfills. By cutting off the end of your old, leaky hose and coiling it up, you can quickly transform it into an outdoor mat. For this DIY, you’ll need to fold your tube and attach a zip tie to keep it in the right shape. Or, use glue and an old rectangular door mat as the base for your project, adding piping to the top for a unique design and extra durability.

Depending on the style of outdoor rug you want, your hose can be turned into a rectangular, semicircular, round or oval shaped rug. If you have long or multiple old garden hoses, you can make a larger mat. This project will complement other DIY pieces like this one Patio craft made from jar lidsAnd can be used in multiple ways. A small rug can become a doormat leading into your home or you can set up an upcycled garden hose on your porch for a functional decor. Alternatively, the squishiness of the hose material makes this mat a great pad to kneel on while you work in your garden.

The easiest way to accomplish this upcycle is to carefully wrap or fold your tube into the shape of an outdoor mattress. With this method, your mat will be oval or round in shape. You can connect the ends of several tubes to continue until your mat is as big as you want. After cutting the metal couplers on the hose, fold the rubber ends over the remaining hose. Secure this bend by wrapping a zip tie over both pieces of tubing and tightening. Continue coiling your tube, zip-tying each new crease in place.

Using a shorter tube for the first fold will create a round shape, while a longer roll will create an oval. As you wrap the rubber tube around itself, make sure you keep it as tight as possible to prevent gaps in your mat. If you want to connect multiple tubes, wedge a dowel rod or small piece of PVC pipe into the end of each tube to hold them together. Wine corks can also serve to plug and connect hose ends. Make sure you block the open end of the last piece to ensure the mat is sealed. Once you’re done, cut the ends of the plastic and tighten the zip ties before setting your mattress outside.

If you don’t like the look of zip ties or if you want a more traditional doormat, there’s another way Repurpose an old garden hose into a nifty outdoor solution. Instead of tying the duct into a flat mat, you cut sections of the duct to attach to the existing mat. This project works well if you only have a short hose.

Lay the hose over the doormat and cut it to fit over the mat. Glue the rubber to the mat with a strong adhesive that can withstand outdoor conditions, eg Waterproof gorilla glueOr Paintable E6000 craft glue. Set something heavy, such as a brick or flower pot, on the tube to press it into the mat while the glue dries. Repeat this process until the entire base is covered to create a rectangular rug. Alternatively, cut the base into semicircles for a fun, uniquely shaped outdoor mat. Plug the open ends of the hose sections with corks to prevent water or bugs from entering.