UK gardeners are likely eager to emerge from their warm abodes and into their bright outdoor space as spring rolls in. However, gardens have survived a lot over the last few months. In fact, the first couple of months of 2026 saw what people perceived to be endless rain, with a remarkably wet and wintry start to the year. Gardens have had to endure rougher-than-usual conditions at the beginning of this year.

This can have quite detrimental effects not only on plants but also on garden furniture and equipment. Households are well aware of the things that winter can do to garden sheds, which can suffer greatly from damp, mildew, and rot when the weather is cold and wet. Meanwhile, tools like clippers and lawn mowers can rust when winter rolls around. While people are generally pretty aware of these issues, how to prevent them and how to remedy them, many don't consider the damage that can be done to garden hoses over the winter months, and gardeners might only notice when they begin to use them to water their plants.

An expert has urged people to check their garden hoses to see if they need repairs before the full-on gardening season kicks in this spring.

This is because water inside a hose could have frozen and caused cracks and breaks, the expert said. Shed expert Sam Jenkinson, from garden building retailer Tiger, is urging UK households to check the condition of items stored in their sheds.

"Any water left inside your garden hose when it was put away at the beginning of winter may have frozen, causing it to expand and potentially create tiny cracks that aren't always visible at first glance," Sam said. Check for brittle sections by attaching it to a tap and seeing if there are any small leaks or splits while the water is running.

"Instead of buying a brand-new hose, you can fix minor damage by using self-amalgamating (or self-fusing) tape, which is often around £5 from most DIY stores.

"Tightly wrap it around small cracks or weak points to create a watertight seal that can extend your hose's life for another gardening season."

Parts of the UK have fallen well below freezing on multiple occasions so far in 2026, and more cold weather could be on the way. While it's best to try to get all of the water out of your hose before winter rolls in, that's not always easy.

You could have easily missed some water in there, and if your shed was particularly cold, that water could have frozen pretty quickly.

That is not the only garden item that Sam is urging people to check. The expert also revealed that lawn mowers and hand tools could have suffered damage as a result of wintry conditions.

"Spades, secateurs and forks often suffer quietly over winter, especially when left on the floor or against damp walls," Sam added. "Before spring, check blades and joints for any rust that may have formed. Alongside this, check wooden handles for any swelling or cracking."