Article

Should you bury soaker hoses?

December 13, 2025 - By 
A: Soaker hose can be used on the top of the ground surface, or covered with a layer of mulch (recommended) for best results also decreasing water evaporation. You can bury the hose up to 4” deep if you wish, but this makes it harder to monitor and can lead to damage from roots or digging.

Similarly one may ask, are soaker hoses effective?

Soaker hoses can be an effective and efficient watering tool for beds, shrubs and trees. But use them incorrectly and you may be blindsided with a huge water bill. This allows enough water to flow through the hose so it will slowly seep out into the soil.

Additionally, are soaker hoses better than sprinklers? While sprinkler hoses do have some use-specific applications, they can also be beneficial in certain other circumstances. A soaker hose allows water to seep through the hose along its entire length. This is a very efficient way to direct water to the root system of your plants.

Also to know, how long should you leave a soaker hose on?

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

Leave the soaker hose running for 45-60 minutes. It's best to water deep and infrequently. When you water shallow and often you train the roots to be lazy.

Do soaker hoses get clogged?

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

The downside of soaker hoses is that they can become clogged with soil and calcium from water. Hoses can be soaked in a descaler solution. Usually an annual soaking and cleaning of soaker hoses in vinegar and mold soap solution keeps holes open.

Can you leave soaker hose out winter?

Soaker hoses have an entirely different relationship with winter. Winterize soaker hoses by leaving them in place. They should be buried or covered by soil or mulch. Any moisture remaining in the hoses will simply seep out without any expansion and contraction problems.

How much water does a soaker hose use per hour?

Most soaker hoses apply about 1-1/2 inches of water per hour. Drip systems provide 1/2 to 1-1/2 or more inches per hour, depending on the type and layout. An inch of water a week is enough for most plants – run drip and soaker systems accordingly.

How often should you use a soaker hose?

Start running your soaker hose about 30 minutes twice a week. After a watering day, check your soil to see if the moisture has penetrated several inches, then adjust accordingly. When you find the magic number for your conditions, use a timer to water the same number of minutes every time.

Does soaker hose need pressure?

Installing a soaker hose is easy: simply hook up to the nearest faucet or rain barrel and snake around the plants you want watered. Pressure regulators are usually not necessary with soaker hoses. Adjust the water pressure by opening or closing the flow from the tap.

How long should you water each zone?

Try this: Cut in half the amount of time you water each zone, but run your watering program twice. In other words, instead of watering each zone for 30 minutes, water each zone for 15 minutes, then cycle through all the zones again for another 15 minutes.

Which soaker hose is best?

The Best soaker hose on the Market of 2020
  1. Gilmour 100049288 Flat Weeper Soaker Hose, 25' (Our Top Recommended)
  2. Rocky Mountain Goods Soaker Hose.
  3. Flexon Soaker Hose, Black, 1/2 In X 50 Ft (2 Pack)
  4. Taisia 1/2 Inch Soaker Hose 50ft.
  5. Dramm 17020 ColorStorm Premium 25 Foot Soaker Garden Hose.

Are soaker hoses safe for vegetable gardens?

Premium, FDA-grade Polyurethane Soaker Hoses are Drinking-Water Safe! Free of toxins like phthalates, BPA and lead, these premium soaker hoses are a smart choice for any garden, especially organic and food gardens. They save water, too: Soaker hoses use up to 80% less water than sprinklers!

Do soaker hoses use less water?

Soaker hoses use much less water than spray hoses or sprinklers, and are easy to set up and use. Lay the hose around plants first, and then mulch over them. Soaker hoses have tiny holes that seep water slowly into the root zone of your plants, so not a drop is wasted.

How long should you water tomatoes with a soaker hose?

Water each tomato plant for 1 – 6 minutes depending on your soil composition. It is better to water tomatoes in the morning so that the plants will have time to thoroughly dry before night. Use a soaker hose for watering tomato plants.

How much water does a drip system use per hour?

This system is good for a small yard or for watering individual plants. Drip irrigation is highly effective at supplying one to four gallons of water per hour directly to the soil.

Can you connect soaker hoses together?

A. You can connect two Soaker Hoses together, but we recommend that you don't connect more than two together as standard water pressure will not be enough to push water further than 40m. To connect two Soaker Hoses together you need to buy a connector piece from our spares department.

Can I use a soaker hose with a rain barrel?

Rain Barrel Soaker Hose is a low flow, high output soaker hose that works very well with rain barrels and gravity irrigation systems. Remember DO NOT connect Rain Barrel Soaker Hose to a faucet, this may cause spraying and damage to the hose. ALWAYS use a 200 mesh filter to help prevent clogging.

How often should you water trees?

Newly planted trees or shrubs require more frequent watering than established trees and shrubs. They should be watered at planting time and at these intervals: 1-2 weeks after planting, water daily. 3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days.

What is the flow rate of a soaker hose?

about ½ GPM

Can I use a soaker hose for my lawn?

Grass and Lawns

The most effective way to water grass evenly is with sprinklers. If you will be watering grass with soaker hoses, use the formula above but divide 12 by the number of inches water penetrated. Soaker hoses can be used to water trees in lawns.

How do you use a soaker hose for a tree?

Soaker hose: Another option is to use a porous soaker hose, which will allow water to slowly ooze out of its entire length. Lay the hose on the soil around the tree. Turn the water on just enough so you see beads of water on the surface of the hose. Let it go for an hour or more.

Do I need a pressure regulator for drip irrigation?

Do I need a pressure regulator? A. The answer is yes. Our drip irrigation systems are designed to run under low pressure.