SOAKER HOSE dept ?

I am in the process to install a soaker hose for my vegetable garden.
Do I just lay the hose on top of the soil? or do I need to berry it?

I just read thru a whole soaker hose discussion this evening on another thread. Consensus is to lay it on top, install a pressure REGULATOR, and turn it on only enough so the water trickles out but does not spray. And don't kink up the hose too much.

Those who followed the directions are getting about 5 years life outta their soaker hoses.

I'll try to find the link and post it tomorrow.

Linda

Dr, I've been using soaker hoses for 5-6 years and have never used a regulator and I turn the water all the way on. My water pressure is probably only half of city water, though. Lay them on top of the soil. The package label says to cover them with mulch (I use hay or straw, but any organic mulch will work) to prolong the life, as the sun deteriorates the rubber. It is recommended that no more than 3 be connected, but IMHO the water seepage gets pretty light in the last half of the 3rd one, so I only use 2 connected together.

The nice thing about using the mulch on top of the hoses is that not only is the water exactly where it's needed, the mulch helps retain the moisture, so not as much watering is required.

I run mine 45-60 minutes once a week, depending on how hot and dry it is. You could dig a small hole under the hose to hold something like an empty tuna can, so that you can figure out how long you have to run yours to get 1" of water, which is the suggested amount per week.

oops! Edited to correct amount of water needed per week...1", not 1'

This message was edited Oct 6, 2010 9:43 PM

Ditto what msrobin says. I've been doing the same as she is for many years and it works wonderfully. I also use wheat straw to cover my soaker hoses and the nice thing is that, at the end of garden season, I get DH to disk it all in and it helps improve the soil.

Ditto for 15+ years. The only thing I use is a timer and the hose. I replace them every couple years but I garden year round so not only are they exposed to the intense Texas sun but exterme heat and cold.

I bought one of these, I am worried about getting any water on the leaves in the winter. Can I just put it around my small raised beds or do I have to weave it through the plants to make sure it gets all of them?

It really should be woven through the plants to get water to all the plants. I stretch the hose out away from the row/bed, then take the end and weave and pull it through. Sometimes I have to push a stick in the ground to protect a plant as I'm pulling. Once in place, it won't get the leaves wet, as the water only seeps out of the hose to a few inches on either side, it doesn't spray.

My raised rows are 30" wide and 20' long. I lay the hose about a foot in on one side and at the end, I turn and go back about a foot in on the other side. The end with the cap just gets turned back in to the center of the row. Keep the end that you attach the regular hose to where it is easy to make the connection.