Question about soaker hose

ferger1 · February 5, 2008

What is the best way to put your soaker hose in your garden? Should I put it down underneath the soil or should I run it on top? What is the best way to do this.

Thank You

Worth1 · February 5, 2008

Just put it on top maybe under the mulch this way you can see when and if it gets stopped up.

Worth

dice · February 6, 2008

On top but under the mulch is good. That way you don't
put a shovel through it by accident, but the water it
dribbles out is protected from immediate evaporation
in hot weather.

Some people actually bury theirs in the dirt, but that
seems risky to me. I would have to go around and mark
its progress with stakes or something to not hit it by
accident with a shovel or spading fork.

Adenn1 · February 6, 2008

I use soaker hoses in my two beds...one takes a 75' and the other a 50' one. I lay my soaker hoses out first on top of the beds, then plant and then mulch with grass clippings. The clippings on top of the hose help with evaporation.

ferger1 · February 6, 2008

Thanks to everyone for you answers. They have helped me alot!

Quote:

If we forget our past, we have no furture... For the future begins with memories

gssgarden · February 6, 2008

For tomatoes, Do you guys 'snake' it around the plants or 'circle' it around each one?

Greg

Adenn1 · February 6, 2008

I tried circling the hose around the plants one year...that was a pain and had to use bricks to hold hose down. Now I just run the hose down one side of the plants--an 1-2" from the stem.

Now, I can do this and it works fine as I have pretty heavy clay soil that hold water well. For more sandy soil, it may be wortht he effort to circle the plant.

Worth1 · February 6, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adenn1

I tried circling the hose around the plants one year...that was a pain and had to use bricks to hold hose down. Now I just run the hose down one side of the plants--an 1-2" from the stem.

Now, I can do this and it works fine as I have pretty heavy clay soil that hold water well. For more sandy soil, it may be wortht he effort to circle the plant.

The reason behind the hose trying to hump up is due to the fact that it was not allowed to turn or twist as it was laid down.

For every loop you put in the hose you need to let the hose turn 1 revolution in the way it wants to go.

In this way it will lay flat when the water pressure is on it.

Worth

Adenn1 · February 7, 2008

Worth:

Thanks for the advice...that makes sense.

M

bender · February 8, 2008

This weekend I will be doing pre-spring maintenance on my entire drip system. I plan to use soaker hose for my tomatoes and beds. Thanks for the advice as well!

Bitwise Gamgee · February 8, 2008

A couple of days ago I saw a soaker hose at Wal-Mart made of a thin-walled nylon-like material ... I had never seen one like it. The hose is flat when not full of water. The soaker hoses I have are the traditional thicker-walled porous rubber (they hold a tubular shape when empty).

Has anyone seen the thin-walled hose? ... has anybody used one?

Thanks!
- Bitwise

February 5, 2008	#1
ferger1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Boston, Va Posts: 14	Question about soaker hose What is the best way to put your soaker hose in your garden? Should I put it down underneath the soil or should I run it on top? What is the best way to do this. Thank You __________________ Rufiesmom

February 6, 2008	#3
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	On top but under the mulch is good. That way you don't put a shovel through it by accident, but the water it dribbles out is protected from immediate evaporation in hot weather. Some people actually bury theirs in the dirt, but that seems risky to me. I would have to go around and mark its progress with stakes or something to not hit it by accident with a shovel or spading fork. __________________ -- alias

February 6, 2008	#4
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	I use soaker hoses in my two beds...one takes a 75' and the other a 50' one. I lay my soaker hoses out first on top of the beds, then plant and then mulch with grass clippings. The clippings on top of the hose help with evaporation. __________________ Mark

February 6, 2008	#7
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	I tried circling the hose around the plants one year...that was a pain and had to use bricks to hold hose down. Now I just run the hose down one side of the plants--an 1-2" from the stem. Now, I can do this and it works fine as I have pretty heavy clay soil that hold water well. For more sandy soil, it may be wortht he effort to circle the plant. __________________ Mark

February 7, 2008	#9
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	Worth: Thanks for the advice...that makes sense. M __________________ Mark

February 5, 2008	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Just put it on top maybe under the mulch this way you can see when and if it gets stopped up. Worth

February 6, 2008	#6
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,822	For tomatoes, Do you guys 'snake' it around the plants or 'circle' it around each one? Greg

February 8, 2008	#10
bender Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA Posts: 4	This weekend I will be doing pre-spring maintenance on my entire drip system. I plan to use soaker hose for my tomatoes and beds. Thanks for the advice as well!

February 8, 2008	#11
Bitwise Gamgee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: TN z6 Posts: 103	A couple of days ago I saw a soaker hose at Wal-Mart made of a thin-walled nylon-like material ... I had never seen one like it. The hose is flat when not full of water. The soaker hoses I have are the traditional thicker-walled porous rubber (they hold a tubular shape when empty). Has anyone seen the thin-walled hose? ... has anybody used one? Thanks! - Bitwise