Nourishing your garden is essential for vibrant, healthy plants, but the process can often be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Fortunately, soaker hoses offer a simple and efficient solution to keep your garden hydrated while minimizing water waste.
In this article, we'll delve into the world of soaker hoses, exploring their benefits, the different types available, and key factors to consider when selecting the right one for your garden. Plus, we'll highlight Rocky Mountain Goods as a leading provider of the best soaker hoses, known for their durability, performance, and reliability. Get ready to revolutionize your garden watering routine and achieve lush, thriving plants.
Our Top Picks For Soaker Hose
The Best Soaker Hoses
Best Overall
This Rocky Mountain Radar Soaker Hose is made of vinyl and is designed to be flexible and durable. It has a heavy-duty double-layered design and is 75ft in size.
Moreover, it weighs 2.12lbs and saves 70% water by getting it into the root instead of letting it evaporate through the surface. This product is lead-free, environmentally friendly, and is safe to use on your plants. It can easily be folded and stored away when not in use. This product comes with a leak-proof guarantee and has puncture holes that ensure consistent drip.
Pros
- It can easily be set up
- It paves way for 70% water conservation
- It is made of high-quality materials
Cons
- May experience unexpected leakage
Most Versatile
This product is made from 70% recycled rubber and 30% polyethylene, is environmentally friendly, and pollution-free!
The Suneed soaker hose comes in 25ft, 50ft, 75ft, and 100ft and it has a 1.2″ diameter; this makes it easy to maneuver around plants. It saves 70% water and can be used in both high and low-temperature environments. The soaker hose sports screw fittings and can accommodate attachment to another hose as well! It’s a lightweight, durable tool for your garden and flowerbeds, backed by a 7 years warranty!
Pros
- It’s lightweight and durable
- It’s an eco-friendly product
- It comes with screw fittings
Cons
- The rubber is not very flexible
Most Compact
This product is versatile and its flexible construction allows it to be laid around corners easily!
The Melnor Soaker Hose is available in three sizes; 25ft, 50ft, and 75ft. It has two rust-proof end caps that allow it to be connected to other hoses for length adjustment. This hose is made of tough vinyl. You can place it both on the surface of the soil or bury it underneath. This product is backed up by a 2-year warranty by Melnor and is one of the most sought-after lightweight soaker hoses! If you’re taking our suggestions, we’re vouching for this soaker hose!
Pros
- It can be flattened for easy storage
- Comes with two extra washers
- Two-year manufacturer’s warranty
Cons
- More water comes out near the front
Most Flexible
This product is flexible and lies down easily without any bumps. It leaks at the rate of 2 gallons per 2 minutes and has a pressure rating of 60 PSI. The Soaker Hose by Linex is made with heavy-duty PVC. It has metal connectors on each end and can be connected to two hoses at the same time. This product is 50 ft long and is quite flexible; it can be folded and stored without any hassle. It can be placed on the surface as well as buried underneath.
Pros
- Flatten for easy storage
- It is made up of PVC material
- High degree of tensile strength
Cons
- Water flows out faster in low spots
Most Clog-Resistant
This product is a flat weeper soaker hose and is 25 ft long. It is made with clog-resistant material to promote continuous soaking and prevention of accumulated dirt.
The Gilmore soaker hose is made with vinyl material and is black in color. The material is UV resistant and prevents the hose from cracking under the sun. It weighs 0.75lbs; is lightweight and can be moved around easily. There would be no hassle when it comes to folding it up and storing it away. This hose is flexible enough to be lined straight or snaked around plants in the garden.
Pros
- It is easy to move around
- It is available in multiple sizes
- Environmentally friendly vinyl
Cons
- May use too much water
Most Durable
This product is a flat hose that ‘weeps’ out water for maximum irrigation. The length of this hose is 50ft.
The one-stop garden soaker hose is made with heavy-duty woven nylon for improved flexibility and durability. This hose can be used with or without miser discs to reduce the water flow to 75%. The hook of this hose is 3/4″ and can match most standard home hose connections. This hose weighs 1.4 lbs. and comes in a green, yellow and black color.
Pros
- Use with or without miser discs
- Reduce the flow of water up to 75%
- It’s made up of woven nylon
Cons
- It can sometimes get clogged with dirt
Most Eco-Friendly
This product is designed as a 2–in-1 hose. Turn it one way and it is a sprinkler and the other way, a soaker hose. Water is released in a sprinkler pattern and goes 1 or 2 inches above the ground.
The swan product soaker hose is made of rubber, weighs 1.9 lbs. and is 50ft long, 13″ wide, and 1″ tall. It comes in three colors; green, white and black. It has an adjustable spray that reaches up to 50′ wide. This product is made of 65% recycled rubber. It rolls out easily and remains flat on the ground with no twists or tangles. It has laser-cut holes, is environmentally friendly, and weather-resistant.
Pros
- It has multiple functions
- It is available in multiple colors
- It is environmentally friendly
Cons
- It requires a low water pressure
The Best Soaker Hose Buying Guide
Every gardener takes pride in their healthy-looking garden. Of course, this is no easy feat for them to achieve. Time and energy have been put into the growth of the plants and that includes ensuring that they get watered frequently and adequately. Gardeners with busy lives may find the frequent watering of plants inconvenient. Especially if they have a wide yard to water, the need for the top-rated soaker hose is paramount to reduce water waste.
Soaker hoses are long water hose with small puncture holes throughout its length. This hose is placed close to the plant and the small punctured holes allow water to drip into the soil and near the root. This hose can be passed throughout the garden and its pressure can be controlled. It requires low maintenance and little or no supervision.
There are different types of soaker hose in the market; each with its own specifications. Trying to pick one without knowing all the information needed to buy a soaker hose can be a daunting task. Hence, we’ve prepared this buying guide to help you make a choice.
What to Know Before Buying a Soaker Hose
Material
A premium quality soaker hose is one that can withstand nature’s elements and also ensure that plants get watered properly. The material of soaker hoses is an important factor to consider and should not be overlooked. Recycled rubbers and tires are some of the most commonly used materials for soaker hoses because of their durability. Other materials include; vinyl, polyurethane, etc. you need to ensure that whatever soaker hose you’re buying is weather resistant.
Length
The length of a soaker hose depends ultimately on the size of your garden or yard. The hose needs to be long enough to reach the corners of your garden or yard. Soaker hoses are generally designed in a way that one can attach two or three hoses to make a lengthy hose. Hence, the larger your garden, the longer your hose and vice versa.
Water pressure
The pressure ratings provided for a soaker hose tell you how much water pressure it can withstand without bursting or leaking. The general rule of thumb when buying a soaker hose is that the pressure needs to be less than 10 psi to enable water to seep through the hose instead of coming out in large sprinkles. A soaker hose should be able to handle water pressure to avoid flooding your gardens. Manufacturers usually indicate the pressure rating of most soaker hoses to ensure that it matches the water pressure of your home.
Design
Most soaker hoses come in two designs; flat or round. The flat design soaker hose has small holes down its length and is generally made with plastic. This hose is easier to roll and store. Because of its design, it does not bulge on the ground. However, this type of hose is not as durable as the round type because the plastic may wear out and is not weather resistant.
The round soaker hose is more durable than the flat type. It is made from high-quality materials and some even have more than one exterior to prevent it from external elements. This type of hose has a higher pressure rating than the flat type but, it is bulkier and takes up a lot of space.
Different Types of Soaker Hoses
Weeper soaker hose
A weeper hose is a type of soaker hose where water slowly and continuously gathers around the wall of the hose and slowly turns into droplets seeping into the soil.
Drip soaker hose
The wall structure on drip soaker hoses is slightly different from the one on the weeper soaker hose. This hose is made from durable material with small holes punctured along the length that releases droplets of water in drips. With this hose, one can control the flow rate and water pressure.
Flat soaker hose
This type of hose is as the name implies. The flat soaker hose is flexible and makes it easy to fold and store away when not in use. Their flexibility makes it easier to maneuver them in whatever way you desire. However, the flat soaker hose is prone to weather damage as well as rips and tears.
Round soaker hose
The shape of this hose is determined by the material used in manufacturing it. The round soaker hose is made from a durable material that is weather-resistant and safe from garden accidents such as; sharp objects, shrubs, etc.
Benefits of Using a Soaker Hose
Easy usage
Every soaker hose comes with a pressure rating provided by the manufacturer. This helps to determine if there’d be a need for a pressure regulator or not. A pressure regulator helps to regulate water pressure if the home water pressure is more than that provided by the soaker hose. Unlike garden hoses that direct water in single direction, the soaker hoses supply water directly to soil. The best soaker hose is one that is easy to use without any complications – and they require little-to-no supervision!
Controls weed
A soaker hose concentrates water in a particular area. This means that a soaker hose can be placed in a way that only the plants that need water get watered. Lack of water would cause the weeds growing around to die without having to pull them out or use chemicals.
Prevents soil erosion
The essence of a soaker hose is to ensure that water seeps out of it gradually into the soil preventing any topsoil erosion. A soaker hose is useful for reducing water usage and protecting the soil from excess water that could damage the plants.
Retain soil moisture
The frequent seeping of water into the soil prevents it from being dry, especially during hot seasons. A soaker hose ensures that the soil retains proper moisture without being prone to topsoil erosion. Allowing your plant to grow and thrive.
How to Use a Soaker Hose
If you’re unsure of how to use a soaker hose, check out this helpful video below!
People Also Asked
How do I know what length to buy?
This can be determined by the size of your garden or yard. If you have a small garden, then you need a short soaker hose. However, if your yard is larger and wider, then a longer hose would be more suitable. However, be mindful that too-long (75 feet or more) soaker hoses may become a hassle at times.
What is the water consumption of a soaker hose?
Generally, a soaker hose releases 1.5 inches of water every hour. However, it differs for some soaker hoses.The majority of plants only need an inch of water per week. You need to be on top of your plant's water needs and work with them.
Where do I lay my soaker hose?
A soaker hose can be laid in a straight row or it can be snaked around the plants. It all depends on the layout of your plants. Some soaker hoses can even be buried beneath the soil to keep your garden looking neat!
