Garden hoses often become kinked, or bent in a way that restricts water flow, because they’re typically stored in tight coils for long periods, and the material develops a “memory” of that position. To combat this common problem, some hoses have anti-kink technology, but you also help prevent kinking by changing the way you store your hose. The best thing you can do is to leave it straight when it's not in use, which can be done by stretching it along a path. If that’s not possible, try storing in large, loose loops, which minimize the chances of developing a coil shape.  The material you choose also impacts how often you have to contend with kinks and coils. Master Gardener Debra LaGattuta shares her experience: "I've found that it's impossible to prevent standard rubber hoses from kinking," she says. "To prevent rubber hoses from kinking, I had to walk to the location of the kink and manually straighten out the hose and then go back to watering." So if you choose a rubber hose for its long-lasting durability, keep in mind that you may have to straighten it frequently.