Cryptic crossword clue
Large snake in garden initially gives problem with hose 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LADDERING

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "problem with hose" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case problem with hose = laddering.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

Crossword Answer definitions

LADDERING verb
  1. To arrange or form into a shape of a ladder.
  2. To ascend (a building, a wall, etc.) using a ladder.
  3. Of a knitted garment: to develop a ladder as a result of a broken thread.
LADDERING noun
  1. A process of soil compaction that serves to break up clods and level a field.
  2. An interview technique developed in the 1960s in which the interviewer systematically drills down for greater detail at each step.
  3. An investment strategy where the investment is spread over multiple bonds or term deposits with rolling maturity dates.
  4. A regular pattern of oligonucleotide sizes on electrophoretic gels, resulting from the fragmentation of DNA strands during cell death.
  5. An irregular fracture pattern that arises from uneven drying.

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