What Hidden Dangers Lurk Within...
The Garden Hose?

Let's see -- what perils could be lying around your backyard? Snail bait, an unlatched pool gate, a loose deck board, a garden hose, maybe an open bottle of pool chlorine. Oooh -- not a big nasty garden hose. What's it going to do, coil itself around you're itty bitty neck when you have your back turned?

Well, maybe in a bad movie. The real danger comes from PVC, which many hoses are made from, and which uses lead as a stabilizer. Learn more from Kerry Michaels, About.com's Guide to Container Gardening. Kerry outlines the dangers of lead contamination in common garden hoses and offers smart alternatives that will be safer for you and your environment. Her must-read article is part of an About.com-wide focus on summer safety.

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor