Best Soaker Hose Options Your Yard Truly Needs This Year

It can be tricky to select the right type of gardening equipment, and that is why Jardin HQ exists. We want to remove the trickiness and frustration from gardening and provide you with straightforward data that makes decision times easy and informed. With the frustration of comparing and contrasting tools and equipment out of the way, you will be able to get to the enjoyable parts of the gardening experience.

Know What You Need and Why

Aren’t all hoses ‘soaker hoses’? Every hose soaks things with water.

Yes, it is true that all hoses have the ability to soak things with water, but a soaker hose is different from an ordinary garden hose. There are a few reasons why you need a soaker hose alongside your garden hose. These reasons are:

• Soaker hoses are designed to lay on the ground between plants and gently spray the plants
• Soaker hoses are ideal for use on plants that need to be watered regularly
• Soaker hoses are ideal for use on plants that should not be watered on their leaves
• Soaker hoses save water because they don’t spray water into the air where it will evaporate

Now that you understand why you might need a soaker hose in your garden, let’s talk about what to look for in a soaker hose. We are going to look for the ideal soaker hose based on the following criteria:

Coverage

This is a term used to describe how far the water will flow out from the hose. Typically, soaker hoses wet the soil between 6 and 12 inches from the holes in the hose.

Material

Soaker hoses come in a wide range of materials. These include polyurethane, PVC, recycled rubber, and vinyl. Some hoses are made with fiber reinforcement as well. The type of material a hose is made from will determine its cost and its durability.

Durable Hoses Feature:

• Fiber Reinforcement
• Higher cost
• Sustainability for more than one gardening season
• Ability to withstand higher amounts of water pressure
• Polyurethane, PVC, or recycled rubber

Pressure Rating

This is not something that most soaker hoses advertise on their packaging, but it is an important feature to consider for proper watering methods. The wider and longer a hose is, the more water pressure that will be needed to get proper amounts of water into the garden soil. Conversely, shorter hoses that are made of thin vinyl may require low water pressure since they could easily crack or break under the strain of too much pressure.

The best way to know how a hose will hold up to water pressure is to test it out. The steps for this are:

1. Spread out the hose on your lawn
2. Attach the hose to a water spigot
3. Turn on the water
4. Turn the water up slowly until water comes out of the holes at the far end of the hose
5. Do not use more water pressure than is necessary for getting water to soak out of the holes at the far end of the hose

Shape

There are two basic shapes of soaker hoses, round and flat. Each shape has its benefits and its drawbacks. Let’s look a little more at each of these so you can make an educated decision on which type is best for your garden.

Flat Soaker Hoses

This hose shape is best suited for garden rows that are straight.

Pros

• Flat hoses can be buried under mulch
• Flat hoses are made from every type of hose material

Cons

• Flat hoses can get kinked from rolling them
• Flat hoses typically feature holes only on one side
• Flat hoses don’t work well when curved around plants

Round Soaker Hoses

This hose shape is versatile and can be used in straight rows and curved around plants.

Pros

• Round hoses can be buried under mulch
• Round hoses are made from every type of hose material
• Round hoses are very versatile and flexible
• Round hoses are durable
• Round hoses are not as easy to kink as flat hoses

Cons

• Round hoses are typically more expensive

Size

This measurement not only refers to the length of the hose but also to the diameter of the hose and its weight. Soaker hoses range in size from 15 feet to over 100 feet long. They also range in diameter from 3/8 of an inch to an inch. When considering the size of the hose you need, remember that the bigger the hose is, the more it will weigh and the more water pressure it will require.

Temperature Range

It must be taken into account that the work environment of a soaker hose is outdoors where temperatures fluctuate regularly. For this reason, you should take into consideration the climate of where you live when selecting a hose.

For areas with hot temperatures, choose a hose that is UV-resistant. If an area has cold temperatures, choose a hose that is designed for such, or, plan to store it inside during cold seasons. This may require that you create a storage spot for the hose or select a flat hose that stores better.

Types of Plants

Watering plants that are not edible is convenient with an environmentally friendly hose made from recycled rubber. However, watering plants that are edible should be done with a hose that is BPA-free, if possible.

Our Top Choices

Now that we know what a soaker hose is, why we should have one in our gardens, and what to look for in a water hose, we can examine some options available for purchase. Here is our selection of the best of the best water hoses for every garden.

Best BPA-free Soaker Hose

You can rest assured that your garden will be treated without extra chemicals or unwanted metals when you use this hose.

Pros

• It comes in 3 different sizes
• It is UV-resistant
• It is designed to work in both hot and cold temperatures
• It is lightweight (2.15 lbs.)
• It is designed to resist kinks

Cons

• Some users have commented that it doesn’t spread water very well

Best Customizable Soaker Hose

If you need a hose that can expand to fit your garden, then look no further.

Pros

• It is designed to be customizable and includes a variety of fittings
• It is designed to use 70% less water than standard sprinklers
• It is lightweight (2 lbs.)

Cons

• Some users have stated that fitting the customizable parts together is difficult
• Some users have stated that the connectors leak

Best Flat Soaker Hose

This hose is designed for easy set-up and easy storage.

Pros

• It comes in a two-pack
• It is designed with rust-resistant end caps
• It is designed to attach several hoses together if needed
• It is made from flexible vinyl
• It lays flat for easy storage
• It comes with a 2-year limited warranty

Cons

• Its flexible vinyl makes it less durable
• Some users have stated that water doesn’t flow to the end of the hose

Best Overall Soaker Hose

With all its wonderful features, this is a winning hose.

Pros

• It is lightweight (3 lbs.)
• It is flexible
• It is weatherproof
• It is crush-resistant
• It is kink-free
• It is rust-resistant
• It is leak-resistant
• It can handle up to 500 PSI bursts
• It comes in 4 different sizes

Cons

• It is not expandable
• It does not distribute water quickly

Best Polyurethane Soaker Hose

This is a sturdy hose that you should be able to use for several seasons.

Pros

• It is designed to keep water safe for drinking
• It is designed to not kink
• It is designed to be used for several gardening seasons
• It is light-weight

Cons

• It is a small hose and not compatible with large gardens
• It does not coil or store easily

Best PVC Soaker Hose

This hose is designed for dealing with big gardens and big amounts of water pressure.

Pros

• It can handle up to 60 lbs. PSI
• It is easy to store since it rolls up flat
• It is very flexible
• It is designed to connect to a variety of hoses and water spigots

Cons

• Some sers have stated that it doesn’t disperse water evenly
• Some users have dealt with it bursting after only a few uses

Best Recycled Rubber Soaker Hose

If you have a mind to garden in an environmentally friendly manner, you need a good hose made from recycled materials. This hose meets all these qualifications.

Pros

• It is lightweight
• It can handle up to 60 lbs. PSI
• It is designed to be non-clogging
• It is very durable
• It comes with a customer satisfaction guarantee that will replace the hose or refund your money

Cons

• Some customers have stated that the flow of water in this hose is poor
• Some customers have stated that their hose broke after only a few uses

Best Round Soaker Hose

This is a huge hose that is not meant for every garden, but if you have a lot of space, then you need this hose.

Pros

• It is designed to weave around plants in a large garden
• It is designed to connect to other hoses

Cons

• It is heavy (25 lbs.)
• It distributes water slowly
• It is expensive
• Some users have stated that the hose is not durable or long-lasting

Best UV-resistant Soaker Hose

This is a hose that is extremely durable and built to last for many gardening seasons.

Pros

• It comes in 4 different sizes
• It is very flexible
• It is customizable
• It is environmentally friendly
• It is lightweight
• It comes with a money-back guarantee

Cons

• Some users have stated that it doesn’t distribute water well

Best Vinyl Soaker Hose

This is the ultimate soaker hose for the casual gardener.

Pros

• It is lightweight (less than one pound)
• It comes in a variety of sizes
• It is flexible
• It is easy to store

Cons

• It does kink
• It doesn’t allow water to flow evenly

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Soaker Hoses are an amazing piece of gardening equipment that every gardening should consider purchasing for their garden space. Now that you know what benefits they bring to the garden and what features to look for when selecting a soaker hose, you are well prepared to buy one.

This indispensable gardening tool is perfect for those plants that require a delicate touch. Use a garden soaker to water fruits and vegetables that are highly susceptible to fungal infections. This will reduce the risk of the plant getting wet and suffering from an infection or a pest infestation that thrives off moist leaves and stems. Soaker hoses are quite the elegant solution for these types of water issues.

For my type of gardening, I love a garden hose that can roll up quickly and store away for the winter. I also need a hose that is easy to set up and use. For me, I like the flexibility and versatility of the Melnor Flat Soaker Garden Hose. It is lightweight, it can be expanded, and it is easy to store and spread out in a garden space.

I hope this collection of data has been a help to you; after all, that is what we strive to do at Jardin HQ. If you need information on garden tools, plants, and processes, we have plenty of resources.

Research Citations

• Bob Vila
• The Daily Gardener
• Cob.org