Our list of the top picks will give you all the info you need to choose the best soaker hose. All the products below have passed our tests for the various applications you may need.
Soaker hoses are great for watering and irrigating your landscape, garden, trees and lawn.
If you don’t have sprinklers or a drip system in areas of your property, using a soaker hose is an easy way to get your plants the water they need without digging or breaking the budget.
Today we are sharing our top picks for the best soaker hoses for a variety of situations.
Depending on the particular type of landscape you are looking to care for, below you will find our top recommendations for each situation.
In addition to soaker hoses, you will also notice some sprinkler hoses recommended as well. This is because soaker hoses and sprinkler hoses both serve a similar purpose. Although a sprinkler hose is not recommended in all situations, if it’s the best choice for the job that is what you will find below.
Best Soaker Hose for Lawns
What's Inside:
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1. Flexon 50-Foot Three Tube Sprinkler Hose FS50
- Best used for lawn and garden, sprinkling, and soaking
The Flexon 50 foot soaker hose is great for watering hard to reach areas or for supplemental watering during the hot summer months. This is a flat soaker hose that has three distinct inner tubes that provide irrigation. This soaker hose will work well in a snake like pattern. With Flexon’s flat hose you can place the outlet sprays up or down depending on your watering needs. This soaker hose comes in 50 foot lengths and can be connected to more hoses to accommodate larger areas.
2. Gilmour 870751-1001 Hose Flat Soaker, 75′
- Snake through rows of new seedlings or under mature plantings for efficient, deep watering season after season
Gilmour’s flat soaker hose is another great option for adding supplemental water to your lawn. This flat soaker hose can accommodate tricky turns and spaces. This hose is made from recycled vinyl and is very pliable and durable. This Gilmour offering is 75 feet long and can be attached to other soaker hoses to cover a large area.
The Best Soaker Hose for Raised Beds
3. Water Right 50-Foot X 1/2″ Polyurethane Lead Safe Soaker Hose – Bristle Grass
- Our world-class polyurethane soaker hose is the first of it'skind...anywhere.
The best soaker hose for your raised bed is the Water Right lead free, polyurethane soaker hose. Most soaker hoses are made from recycled rubber and have not been tested or labeled for food grade usage. This US made soaker hose will cover your watering needs while giving you the piece of mind that your water is contaminate free. This 50 foot round soaker hose has lead free brass fittings and will not kink when making turns or drops for bed to bed.
4. Teknor Apex Company 1030-25 Thumb Soaker Hose (25′)
- 25' black soil soaker hose
The Green Thumb vinyl soaker hose is another good option for raised beds. This soaker hose is made from vinyl and not rubber and is backed by a 7 year warranty. This offering from Green Thumb will work great in smaller gardens or in a single bed. It’s output of water is very consistent compared to other soaker hoses. Many users report that the hose is very pliable and accommodates smaller beds well.
Best Soaker Hose for Shrubs
5. Swan Products GIDS-2496287 Element Sprinkler Soaker Hose, 50 Ft.
- Easy to use and handle
Swan Products Element Sprinkler hose is a flat soaker hose with a single row of water outlets. This soaker hose works great in landscape areas with shrubs and along always. The single point spray pattern will keep your shrubs watered without leaving your area a soggy mess. This flat soaker hose can easily be covered with rock, mulch or other ground coverings. Swan’s flat soaker hose is 50 feet in length.
Best Soaker Hose for Trees
6. Gilmore 25′ Soaker Hose
- Lightweight water hose is made of 100% recycled vinyl, clog resistant fabric cover for consistent soaking in the garden or around foundations
This vinyl soaker hose from Gilmore is a great all purpose soaker hose that performs well for additional irrigation for your trees. The 25 foot length is perfect for watering around the base of small trees as well as larger well established trees. The watering rate with this soaker hose is a little slower than other soaker hoses tested which is great for deep watering of trees.
Soaker Hose FAQ’s
Are soaker hoses any good?
Soaker hoses are a great product for watering plants, trees and odd shapes or problem areas in your lawn.
How do I choose a soaker hose?
First you need to determine which hose spigot you are going to get your water supply from.
After you have determined where the hose will start, plan out where you want the hose to water. If it is in a straight line measure the distance from start to finish to give you an idea on how long of a hose you will need.
If the area is winding or you need an “S” shape to water multiple rows then it is best to try and pace the area with large steps (approximately 3 feet) to give you an idea of how long a soaker hose you need.
It is always best to get a hose a little longer than needed as it will flow better with the terrain.
After completing the first two steps you need to decide which hose you are going to purchase. Look for soaker hoses that have metal fittings as they will last longer than soaker hoses with plastic fittings.
If your soaker hose run is relatively straight we recommend using a round soaker hose. If your run has twist, turns and “S” curves we recommend flat soaker hoses in this situation.
Which is better flat or round soaker hose?
Flat soaker hoses and round soaker hoses each have their strong points.
Flat soaker hoses will only have holes on one side of the hose while a round soaker hose has little hole throughout the entire hose.
Flat soaker hoses are easily pliable and can make turns and curves throughout your landscape.
Round soaker hoses are movable but do best in a straight line or an application with minimal turns and curves.
Should a soaker hose be buried?
You can bury a soaker hose just under the top layer of soil but avoid burning it too deep as it may impede its flow to the pants you are trying to water.
We recommend placing them on the surface and covering the hose with a layer of mulch or compost. This makes it easier if you need to move or repair a soaker hose as you won’t have to dig them out of the ground.
If you decide to bury your hose under the top layer of soil we recommend using a round soaker hose as it will be more durable in this situation.
How long should I leave my soaker hose on?
A good gardening practice to water plants and lawns deeply once or twice a week.
Depending on the plant and your soil structure you watering needs may require more or less time.
We recommend starting with two waterings for 30min twice a week. If the ground is still wet between waterings you can cut back.
The goal is to have the area you are watering to be completely dried between waterings without the plant looking weepy or stressed.
Can you leave soaker hoses out all winter?
If you live in a mild climate and don’t experience harsh winters or snow you can leave your soaker hose out for the winter.
However, if you live in a place where your ground is frozen for the winter and you receive snow it is best to store them indoors during the winter to prolong the lifespan of the hose.
Regardless of where you live it is best to remove the end cap from the hose and drain all of the water from the soaker hose in later fall.
Are soaker hoses toxic?
Soaker hoses are usually made from recycled rubber and plastics. These products have not been tested for their toxicity and leaching effects when they are used as soaker hoses. With that being said, if the potential toxicity of soaker hoses is a concern for you, you may want to avoid them in fruit and vegetable gardens.
How many gallons per hour does a soaker hose use?
30 gallons of water per hour
Soaker hoses use about a ½ of a gallon of water per minute which would be 30 gallons per hour.
Does a soaker hose need pressure?
Soaker hoses obtain pressure from your water system. One of the benefits of soaker hoses is that they need minimal pressure to perform as they emit a low gallon per minute output.
Can you join soaker hoses together?
Yes, soaker hoses can be linked together. Most soaker hoses have a removable end cap that when removed can be linked to another soaker hose.