Drip Irrigation-Part 5-Using Soaker Hose in the Garden and Landscape

Welcome to part 5, the final part, of How to Assemble Drip Irrigation. Today we will talk about how add a soaker hose to your drip irrigation system. Before getting started be sure and watch the Part 1 video. Also if you would like to watch Tricia assemble the soaker hose, what the Part 5–Soaker Hose video.

Facts About Soaker Hoses

• Soaker hoses can get clogged with mineral deposits and should not be used in areas with heavy minerals in the water. If you have hard water be sure to include a calcium filter as well as a regular filter.
• Great for landscaping where meandering or curved lines are needed and in the garden.
• Our soaker hose is made from recycled materials.
• Only be used on flat surfaces and when designing your soaker hose irrigation system.
• Do not make any lines longer than 250 feet. Also, the maximum soaker hose per faucet is 500 feet, no matter the number of lines or individual line length.
• Flow rate of the 1/2" soaker hose is approximately 54 gal/hr per 100' of hose at 10 psi, or approximately 224 GPH per 100' of hose at 25 psi.
• For ideal performance, it is recommended that you use a 22-25 psi regulator.

Adding a Single Line of Soaker Hose to Your Drip Irrigation System

There are several ways to transition to soaker hose from the 1/2" poly tubing. If you'll be using only one long line of soaker hose use a 1/2" Barbed Coupler to transition from poly tubing to soaker hose or use a 1/2" Barbed Tee at the poly tubing to form a circle. When installing soaker hose fittings use Metal Hose Clamps to secure the hoses and keep them from popping off later when they're under pressure.

Adding Multiple Lines in Your Drip Irrigation System

If you will be laying your soaker hose in multiple straight or curved lines, such as in a vegetable garden bed extend your poly tubing along one full edge of the garden. At the spots where you want to branch off a soaker hose cut the poly tubing and insert a soaker hose Barbed Tee so that the opposite ends reconnect the cut poly tubing and the side end is facing in the direction of your soaker hose. At the end of your soaker hose install a soaker hose Barbed End Cap if your soaker hose ever becomes clogged and you need to clean it at the end of the season just open the end and flush it out. Soaker hose is great for meandering curves but if you need a sharp angle you'll need to cut the soaker hose and install an 1/2" Elbow.

Installing 1/4" Soaker Hose

To use 1/4" soaker hose follow the same principles as for the 1/2" soaker hose but use 1/4" standard poly tubing fittings punched into the side of the 1/2" poly tubing. This size soaker hose does not require clamps to hold it in place on the fittings. Since soaker hose weeps out 360 degrees around and the full length of the installation, you don't need to worry about what's side to put it down on, it doesn't matter. Soaker hose can be buried under the soil, compost or mulch for even better weed prevention and to deliver water directly to the roots. However before burying it check the fits and the water pressure and make sure the soaker hose weeps and doesn't spray. Soaker hose can withstand freezing temperatures but you do want to empty it out when winterizing your garden. So install some soaker hose and grow organic for life!