- Flat Soaker Garden Hose by Melnor
If you are looking for a lightweight and easy to store soaker hose for your garden, then without a second thought, buy this to maintain the garden in a top-notch condition. The two 50 feet hose allows you to put this around the yard for sprinkling water to the delicate plants, flower beds, saplings, and vegetables. You can fold the hose after usage, and it occupies small space in the garden shed.
The compact and thin design would let you use this soaker in any type of garden irrespective of its layout. With its flexible design, you can twist and turn the hose in any corner of the garden without any cracks or bulges.
It is impossible to carry bulky soaker hose around the garden, but with this lightweight soaker hose, you can easily move it around and store it. The tube’s width is 1 inch. When you use two 50 feet of the pipe, it becomes 100 feet to use in a big garden.
You can also connect the timer to the hose to sprinkle water in the garden. The water slowly seeps from the hose at low pressure. You can put this on the ground or under the soil. When you use the hose with mulch, it results in the splitting of the hose. It is highly durable and inexpensive.
Pros
Compact design
Easy to store
Can be used in a wide area
Easy to extend
Can even water the plants in the congested spaces
Flexible
Flatten it to store
Cons
Not suitable for areas witnessing high temperature
Buy it here: Flat Soaker Garden Hose by Melnor
- 2-in-1 Sprinkler/Soaking Hose by Gilmour
If you want a vibrant looking soaker hose, this is the best soaker for you to buy. It allows you to spray the water to the plants in the garden evenly. The white strip would indicate the positioning of the hose. The brass coupling will let the water flow continuously.
It is lightweight and easy for the gardeners to handle. The hose’s 50 feet length makes it easy for you to access big gardens. You can easily place this hose on the ground or burying in the soil to sprinkle the water required for the healthy growth of the plants, flower beds, and vegetables. It is ideal to use in the new grass lawns, gardens, or the yard full of shrubs or trees.
The 50 feet hose will spray the water using the three tubes for the plants and flower beds that are thirsty. The hose is made using vinyl material so that even it is exposed to the sun, it won’t get damaged.
The lightweight hose is easy to move around and occupies very little space for storage. The brass coupling on the ends of the hose and detachable cap would help you with the flushing.
The two in 1 hose gives you two different options to have gentle watering. You can use the hose as a sprinkler. You must keep the white line facing up while you keep the hose on the ground to use the sprinkler. You can use the hose as a soaker wherein you must place the white line facing down.
Pros
Lightweight
Durable
Use as a soaker and sprinkler
50 feet length
Ideal for home and professional gardeners
Occupy less storage space
Cons
Set up is time-consuming
Water pressure is high
Buy it here: 2-in-1 Sprinkler/Soaking Hose by Gilmour
- 17020 ColorStorm soaker garden hose by Dramm
This model soaker hose is available in two different lengths, i.e., 25 feet and 50 feet. This hose is made of recycled material, and the heavy-duty construction makes it long-lasting. The thicker walls of the hose will reduce the amount of water you use for watering the plants. It saves 90% of water compared to the traditional irrigation system.
The rubber material with which the hose is made avoids kinking and abrasion. Throughout the length of the hose, the water is evenly distributed. You can put it on the ground or buried it underground to let the water sprinkle to the roots of the plants without allowing them to get dried and die out.
The hose can withstand high pressure. There is a nickel-plated coupling that is used for the connection points. It is sturdy and has few chances to get split. It injects the water into the roots and is eco-friendly. The geyser effect is reducing due to its thick walls that let the water release from the hose.
Overall, it’s a good soaker hose that allows even distribution of water ensuring healthy plants.
Pros
Save 90% of the water
Thick walls
Distribute the water evenly from start to end
Perfect to use for gardens and flower beds
Sprinkle water directly to the soil
Made using recycled materials
Cons
Not good for summer seasons
Buy it here: 17020 ColorStorm soaker garden hose by Dramm
- 015005T porous soaker by Raindrip
If you want a highly efficient watering system, then you can use this soaker hose. It helps you to get the job of watering the plants done briskly. The ¼ inch porous tube helps you to effectively promote the health of the plants through a drip irrigation system.
The ¼ inch of the barbed fitting with ½ inch water supply line would let you use the soaker optimally. If you have a big garden, then you need the right water system to keep the area well moistened. This hose is perfect for such yards.
It is easy to set up and is ideally for an extensive drip irrigation system. The ¼ inch of the porous tubing will let you sprinkle the water in the garden and bend with ease. When you can turn, you can store this in a smaller space. It is perfect for watering gardens, hedges, and trees.
Pros
Simple to use
Lightweight
Promote large drip irrigation system
Porous tubing
Easy to store in a smaller space
Cons
None
Buy it here: 015005T porous soaker by Raindrip
Key Factors to Consider While Buying the Best Soaker Hose
A soaker hose is an efficient and highly convenient method to water the plants in the garden. With many options, it is always challenging to choose the right one. However, you must consider a few factors while buying the best soaker hose for the garden:
- Material
One of the first things that you need to consider is the material of the hose. It will deice how much water pressure it can handle and its longevity. The hose is made using different materials. Few manufacturers will use recycled tires to make this hose.
The soaker hose that is made using the recycled tires would be sturdy, durable, and possess the ability to withstand extreme conditions. Even it is exposed to dust, dirt, and mulch, the integrity of the hose remains the same.
There are other materials with which the hose is made. These include – vinyl and polyurethane. The hose that is made of polyurethane would be highly durable and stay stronger despite getting exposed to UV and ozone.
- Length
When you are buying the soaker hose, consider the length of the hose based on the size of your garden. The length must allow you to move around and water the plants. The size is the determining factor for the length. The hose is made of four standard lengths, such as 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet.
You can also blend two or more hose to make a big hose. However, it is recommended to buy the hose that is less than 100 feet in length so that you can have good water pressure that is required to water the plants nicely and keep them healthy.
While choosing the hose, you must not miss checking the diameter of the tap where you will be connecting the hose. For normal household taps, the diameter is usually half-inch.
- Water Pressure rating
The pressure rating is another critical factor that you must consider when you are buying the hose. The rating would determine the amount of pressure that the hose can withstand before bursting the water outside. It is written as PSI. For the drip irritation, you would need the pressure of around 10 PSI. The water would flow through the hose rather sprinkling.
A good hose would have the ability to handle a lot of pressure, and it won’t burst out due to a lot of pressure and flood the garden. If this happens, the beauty of the garden will go for a toss. The manufacturers would give the pressure rating on the hose. You must check the rating to buy the best one that is perfect to use at the home garden. You can better buy the hose that comes with the regulator to control the pressure.
- Design
The design must also be considered when you are buying the soaker hose. The hose comes in round and flat shape. These both are highly efficient to sprinkle the water in the water using the hose.
However, the flat kind of hose would add beauty to the garden and will have a scope to direct the water to one point precisely as the holes are on one side. On the other hand, the round soaker hose is used for heavy-duty works, especially when you have a big garden, and you would leave the hose in the garden. It gets buried in the soil and mulch.
- Ease of use
There are a few soaker hoses that are challenging for the home gardener to set up. You must buy the one that is easy to set up and use without any hassle and anyone’s assistance. The design must be simple and more straightforward for you to fit to start watering the plants in your beautiful garden. You must choose the design of the soaker hose that won’t get damaged sooner.
- Size of hose perforation
The soaker hose perforation size would determine the amount of water it comes from the hose. You neither want to flood the plants and saplings with water nor want to pour little water that is insufficient for the growth of the plants. You must know the water perforation rate before buying the soaker hose.
- Durability
You must choose the durable soaker hose and last longer despite extreme wear and tear. The strength depends on the material with which the hose is constructed. You must buy a superior quality hose that lasts longer.
There is various material to choose from, but the one that is made with the recycled tire is considered to be the most durable one. Though the hose may be durable, you also have to check the number of holes that a hose comprises since it is critical to water the plants.
- Number of holes
All the hose does not come with the same amount of holes. The amount varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. You must buy the hose that has enough holes to ensure that the water is distributed to the plants sufficiently. It also promotes the healthy growth of plants.
- Flexible
You must take the flexibility of the soaker hose into consideration when buying it. If the hose is not flexible, then it is tough for you to use regularly for watering the plants. The stiff hose would be challenging to store. The right hose will make the watering of your garden area a piece of cake, uniquely when the plants in the garden are not appropriately aligned.
- Price
There is a wide range of hoses available in the market in different price ranges. You can choose the one that is available within your budget. However, be cautious while choosing one as you will use it longer.
You must check the price, features, and quality. Not all soaker hoses are made using the same material and would have all the features that are there in the other models. If your garden space is small, you can go for the budget one and the bigger garden; you can spend more to improve its longevity and make it easy to maintain the garden.
Benefits of using a soaker hose
Few of the benefits that are offered by the soaker hose include:
Doesn’t let fungus to grow
The soaker hose will allow the water to inject into the soil closer to the roots. It won’t make the plants to get completed soaked and reduce the growth of fungus. This fungus can also damage the healthily growing plants. So, hose prevents the growth of fungus.
Simple to use
The pressure rating of the soaker hose will let you decide whether to buy the pressure regulator. However, you can adjust the water pressure through the tap to which the soaker hose is connected.
Reduction in the upfront expenses
There are no complicated parts that are there in the soaker hose. It is simple to use and operate. With its simple usage, you do not have to spend much on its installation. You can also connect the hose to the timer to save water and spray at regular intervals.
Keep soil erosion at bay
When you use a soaker hose, it releases the water into the soil. The water will not keep the soil dry, and in the same way, it won’t flood the soil, which eventually results in soil erosion. It happens when the water flows at high pressure.
No weeds
By using the soaker hose, you can direct the water to a specific area. You do not have to water the weeds and encourage their growth. The unwanted plants would also die when you do not water them. It becomes easier for you to pull off the weeds when it turns dry briskly.
Keep the moisture in the soil
The drip irrigation system will make the water to seep into the soil to retain the moisture and keep evaporation at bay.
How to clean the soaker hose?
The soaker hose must be kept in top-notch condition to improve its longevity. It helps you to sprinkle the water to the plants optimally. You must clear the hose regularly after usage. However, the cleaning depends on the type of soaker hose that you are using for the garden. You also must know whether the hose is buried in the mulch or is put on the ground.
The steps you must follow in cleaning the soaker hose include:
- After every use, you must remove the hose from the garden and store it in a safe place. Thoroughly clean the dirt and dust accumulated around the hose and inspect for the damages.
- Put the hose in the water and allow it to soak from outside. You must use the weight to keep the hose immersed in the water.
- Add the detergent to the water. Use a dishwasher to wash the soaker hose. Ensure that the dishwasher has no traces of ammonia since it could cause severe damage to the hose.
- Put the hose in the dishwater for a couple of hours and keep it in the freshwater to remove dirt and detergent around it.
- Keep the hose on the ground to find the clogging in the pores. You can use a sharp object to remove the clogs.
- Connect the soaker hose to the tap for two to three minutes to clean the hose from inside and unclog the holes
- Allow the hose to dry in the sun and wrap it to use for the next season.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why is soaker hose perfect for watering plants?
If you get the best soaker hose, then it will be easy to use. You would need to put in minimal effort to set up the hose. It is also eco-friendly as it is made using recycled rubber material. The best thing is that it saves a lot of water that otherwise goes waste when you use the traditional irrigation system by reducing the pressure of water.
It releases water to the plants continuously without allowing them to get dry or flood completely. The home gardeners can use this hose to promote the healthy growth of plants.
Can you get the hose repaired when it is burst?
The malfunctioning of the hose is due to the increase in the pressure levels. You can use a pressure regulator to control the water pressure and keep your hose durable. Also, it’s important to check the PSI before you invest in buying a hose.
There is a probability that even a good quality hose can get damaged, to over come this you must observe any damages on the hose, you can cut up to that area and connect the pipes with the help of compression coupling.
Can you connect multiple hoses to increase the length?
Yes, you can easily connect multiple hoses to increase the length of the soaker hose. It allows you to use the bigger hose to sprinkle water in the big garden without any hassle. You must have an easy connect option to attach multiple hoses. You can do this based on your gardening needs.
Is the soaker hose free from lead?
The soaker hose is not free from the lead. Many soaker hoses that are available in the market are made using lead material. These are cost-effective and do not last long. Moreover, lead is poisonous and is not safe.
How often can you use the soaker hose?
The hose’s usage depends on various factors, such as the climatic conditions of your place and the type of plants that you are growing in the garden. The plants would require 2 inches of water every week.
If you use the traditional method for watering the plants, it takes hours to let the water reach the roots of the plant. When you use the hose, it directly reaches the roots. The water delivery rate will determine the time up to which you must water the plants.
What are the best materials for the soaker hose?
The soaker hoses are made using recycled rubber material that is durable and sturdy. The hose made of this material can withstand extreme weather conditions. Despite hose getting into the soil, wood chips, dirt, and must, it lasts longer and works optimally.
The hose’s water flow will allow you to release a sufficient amount of water to the roots. The material is good enough to puncture holes throughout the length.
Conclusion
Without water, plants would grow weak and unhealthy. It is the gardener’s responsibility to keep the plants, vegetables, flower beds, and saplings hydrated in all seasons, especially when it is sunny. It is wise to invest in a suitable soaker hose that supplies enough water to the plants through a drip irrigation system.
We have listed out 10 best soaker hoses with pros and cons. You can go through each review and choose the best one that fits in your gardening needs. The right hose will make your garden curb appeal for the season.