July in the garden can feel like a never-ending battle against the heat, as we tirelessly water our plants in the hope they don't wilt away. That's why I'm on the hunt for solutions to make watering less laborious, and when I asked a garden pro for her top tip, she said just one thing: use a soaker hose.
A soaker hose works similarly to a drip irrigation system. Take this Amazon flat soaker hose, for example, it has a porous material that allows water to leak through and hydrate roots directly. 'A soaker hose is the most efficient way to water garden beds. Just lay out the hose, set it on a timer, and forget about it,' says Lindsey Chastain, gardening expert at The Waddle and Cluck.
It's one of the best tools to reduce water waste in the yard, as it's much more efficient than using a watering can or standard garden hose. Those who have already purchased it say, '[It] provides consistent watering throughout my beds. Since using it, watering has become much more efficient and less time-consuming.' So, if your plants are looking a little worn out from the heat, a soaker hose could save them this summer.
This flat soaker hose is available in a number of sizes, from 15-75ft long. Lay it down in your garden beds and borders and attach to your outdoor faucet. It releases water directly onto the soil, hydrating plant roots efficiently and saving water waste. After use, you can roll it up to store without taking up lots of space. It's made of durable vinyl and is kink-resistant.
Why Use a Soaker Hose?
A soaker hose is made of porous material, whether fabric, PVS, or rubber, allowing the water that flows through it to seep out onto the soil it lays on. It's one of the easiest ways to reduce watering in your garden by doing it for you.
In this sense, a soaker hose and drip irrigation system are similar. However, the difference is a drip irrigation system (which you can install with this kit from Amazon) tends to be more robust, sits permanently in the garden, and targets specific plants. A soaker hose tends to be more affordable, adaptable, and it's easier to store.
When it comes to watering plants in hot weather and protecting plants in a heatwave, Lindsey says a soaker hose is the most effective way to keep your garden hydrated and safe.
'Gardens need to be watered early in the morning when it's hot outside and they need to be watered at the base to keep leaves from burning,' she notes.
By laying a soaker hose down in your garden border and setting an irrigation timer (like this from Walmart), your watering is done automatically and you can feel reassured the water is going directly on roots and not foliage.
As Lindsey noes, this keeps plants safe from leaf scorch and also fungal diseases like powdery mildew which thrives on wet foliage.
This also helps save water compared to manual watering with a can or standard hose, as the roots are deeply watered from the soaker hose and water surface runoff is reduced.
Why Shoppers Love It
The Amazon flat soaker hose has a 4.1-star rating and over 4,000 reviews raving about how well it works.
'This soaker hose has been a great addition to my garden! It has saved me so much time compared to hand watering, and I love that it delivers water directly where my plants need it,' one five star reviewer writes.
'The 75-foot length was perfect for my set-up. I was able to stretch it between multiple garden beds without needing extra hoses or connectors,' they add.
This hose is available in multiple lengths, starting at 15ft. This means it's a great tool for smaller and larger gardens alike.
Not to mention, it's incredibly lightweight (just 1.8 lbs) and can be rolled up to store without taking up a lot of space.
'When I saw how tiny the box for this soaker hose was – and how light – I was sure that I would hate it. But it works incredibly well,' one person writes.
'The hose is not rubber but rather nylon fabric, and the water leaks out of it to truly soak the ground around it. This is not a slow soaker but rather a rapid one because it doesn't have holes, just the natural ones in nylon fabric,' they add.
It seems shoppers have found you don't have to keep the soaker hose on for long for it to sufficiently water beds and borders.
'I’m not the type of gardener who wants to stand outside holding a hose for an hour. This soaker hose lets me lay it out along the plants, turn on the water, and let it do the work. It spreads the water evenly and makes watering the garden a lot easier. Perfect for people who want healthy plants but also enjoy sitting on the porch,' one reviewer describes.
Perhaps the only downside to note about the soaker hose is that it is recommended to attach to a standard garden hose (like this $10 garden hose from Walmart) to support the water pressure from the spigot. However, it does have the right connectors to fit directly onto outdoor faucets, so this isn't a necessity.
Plus, with its efficiency in saving water, time, and effort, there's no doubt it's a good investment for summer gardening. The current 20% discount also makes it just $26.39, which is a bargain compared to other hoses on the market.
What to Shop
This kit has everything you need to install a drip irrigation system in your garden. It has 3 types of drip emitters to work with.
Connect your soaker hose up to this irrigation timer to make garden watering automated and low-effort.
This 40-50% shade cloth can be used to protect delicate plants from scorching sunlight during a heatwave.
Even if you install a soaker hose in your yard, don't forget to read up on watering mistakes to avoid. This includes watering in the middle of the day in summer when water evaporates much more quickly and can leave roots dehydrated. You may find having a soil moisture meter (like this from Amazon) to hand helps you monitor water levels in your soil.
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