Watering your backyard or garden doesn't have to be tiresome. A soaker hose solves this problem by continuously watering your plants in a controlled amount and pressure.
There are different soaker hoses that can do this according to your preference. And since there are so many options in the market to choose from, there are few things that you should always put in mind before buying a soaker hose for your backyard or garden.
Scanning your options, of course, translates to pages and pages of research you need to read on your end just to find the right one. But to make things easier for you, our team of experts has reviewed and tested five of the best hoses that you can choose from. We also rated and ranked them after comparing their best qualities and flaws.
When you choose and settle on the best choice, be sure to click the buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon!
Best Soaker Hoses Comparison & Rating
1. One Stop Gardens FBA_97193 Flat Sleeper Soaker Hose
Brand | One Stop Gardens |
Material | Woven Nylon |
Length | 50’ |
Type | Flat |
This soaker hose stretches without twisting when in use. It is also a wonderful choice since you can choose to use miser discs to regulate water flow up to 75%. The water will flow smoothly, soaking the soil and the plants, getting the water directly to the roots. It enhances its durability by the lightweight synthetic fabric, which has a waterproof coating on one side. It is then sewn with wide stitches along the length for it to be tubular. Water seeps from the gaps that are between the stitches. This ensures that the soaker hose functions effectively and serves for longer.
2. Rocky Mountain Goods Soaker Hose
Brand | Rocky Mountain Goods |
Material | Recycled Rubber |
Length | Available in 25’ and 50’ |
Type | Rounded |
If you need a soaker hose for your garden or flower beds, then this is the option. It has a continuous flow of water from all over the hose and has a reinforced fitting where you can attach another hose quickly. Because of its thick body, water cannot escape the hose. Hence it saves your water up to 70% compared to other standard soaker hoses. It is made from recycled rubber-like tires, which provides it with very heavy-duty performance. This is an efficient choice of a soaker hose.
3. Gilmour 870751-1001 Hose Flat Soaker
Brand | Gilmour |
Material | Recycled Vinyl |
Length | Available in 25’, 50’, and 75’ |
Type | Flat |
This type of soaker hose is definitely what you must consider for your garden or yard. The hose works by weeping water slowly and gently into the soil directly to the plants' roots. This technique limits the amount of water that will go to waste and be lost through evaporation. More so, you can place it above the ground or under a thin layer of mulch. You will not need to worry about clogging the tiny perforations that seep the water. This is because the recycled vinyl material used to make it is clog-resistant. You can leave this soaker hose in the garden during on-season and easily remove it during the off-season and store it waiting for the next season.
4. Rocky Mountain Goods Flat Soaker Hose
Brand | Rocky Mountain Goods |
Material | Vinyl |
Length | Available in 25’, 50’, and 75’ |
Type | Flat |
This heavy-duty layered soaker hose lasts longer and makes it easy for you to water your garden or backyard. Whether you are watering flowers or other plants, it works efficiently by seeping the water consistently throughout the entire length of the hose. Hence it's a guarantee that whenever the hose goes through, the soil will soak. This also conserves water up to 70% since it gets directly to the roots, which avoids evaporation. If you have a small size kitchen garden or backyard, this is the best choice of soaker hose lengthwise.
5. Melnor 65062-AMZ Flat Soaker Hose
Brand | Melnor |
Material | Vinyl |
Length | Available in 25’, 50’, and 75’ |
Type | Flat |
This is a great soaker hose. This is because it will ease the watering of your garden with no wastage of water. This soaker hose works by slowly soaking and watering only the areas where you place the hose. You can also place it above the ground or under a thin layer of soil. As a result, your plants grow greener and stronger with a minimum run-off. Unlike other standard hoses, which are hard to carry around while changing position or bending when storing, this hose is lightweight and folded to a shoebox-size.
Best Soaker Hoses - Buyer's Guide
The material used to make a soaker hose matters a lot in its durability and flexibility. Different soaker hoses are made from various materials. The materials could be recycled tires, vinyl, or even polyurethane, which are pretty durable. When buying a soaker hose, check keenly on the material used to make it.
The size of the hose determines the water pressure. Check the size of the soaker hose showed by the manufacturer keenly. You don't need a colossal size if you want a soaker hose. If the pressure is too high, that means that you will have a sprinkler rather than a soaker hose. It might also harm the plants.
It would be best if you chose a soaker hose depending on your garden or backyard's size. The suitable soaker hose should reach every corner of your garden with no problem. The larger the garden or backyard, the longer the soaker hose you will need. For a smaller garden, get a shorter soaker hose since a longer one might create a mess and won’t work effectively.
The design of the soaker hose is also a factor that you should consider. Some hoses are flat, and others are round. The most common ones widely used by homeowners for their gardens and yards are the flat soaker hoses. Both the hoses are efficient for watering your garden, but with the flat ones, you can bury them under a thin layer of mulch or soil, and they are safe. The flat soaker hose is easy to store since you fold it when it's not in use. A flat soaker hose needs a limited space.
Anything flexible is easy to use and store. When trying to get a soaker hose choose flexible ones over stiff ones. A flexible hose will make U-turns and maneuver around your plants with no problem. By this, all plants will have enough water. It is also easier to lay a flexible hose where you want it to water.
Best Soaker Hoses - FAQs
The soaker hose makes your work easier. You don't have to water your plants manually with a bucket or containers. You need to fix and relax. They save more water since they water directly to the roots; hence no water is lost through evaporation.
If you want to water flowers and vegetables in your garden, you lay the hose along the rows. If they are not in straight rows, snake the hose around each plant. This should work effectively.
It's simple, unwind it and let it stand in the sun for about an hour for it to loosen. Remove the end cap and attach it to the source of water. Run water for a few minutes, then replace the end cap. Stretch the soaker hose, put the water on, and forget to adjust the pressure until a slow drip. The hose is already set.
Your hose could be clogged. The tiny perforations that seep water could be closed. You can add some pressure in the water to flush the perforations open. Always consider using filtered water in your soaker hose to avoid clogging.
