Installation Guide

How to Install a Soaker Hose
Step 1.
Unravel the soaker hose and remove the end cap. Connect the opposite end of the soaker hose
(the female connector) to a water source and run the water for a few minutes to flush out any debris
from the hose. (Always flush new soaker hoses and repeat the process once or twice annually
to remove any further debris.)
Step 2.
Shut off the water, replace the end cap and then run the water again
to ensure the soaker hose is “weeping” properly. This means you
should see many small drops of water coming out of the hose along
its entire path. Shut off the water and disconnect the hose.
Step 3.
Leave the soaker hose in the sun for approximately one hour to soften.
This will help remove the coiled “memory” from the hose and make it
more flexible and therefore easier to maneuver around trees, bushes
and flowers. It will also make the soaker hose bend and stay in position
without the use of stakes as long as the bends aren’t too sharp.
Step 4.
Plan your soaker hose layout. The female connector of the soaker hose should ideally be near a water source,
with the water source at the highest point of the layout since water doesn’t flow correctly up an incline.
(Note: Oftentimes, the best place for the water source is directly in the middle of the layout.
A T-shaped female feeder connector (sold separately) can be used at the water source to branch
the water in two opposing directions as if having two separate soaker hoses.)
Also keep in mind that the total length of soaker hose connected to a single water source
should not exceed 150 feet. If more than 150 feet of soaker hose is needed, you’ll need an additional
water source.
Stretch the soaker hose straight for crops or flowers planted in a straight line, or weave the hose
in a nice flowing curve among plants spaced more randomly. Place the soaker hose about two inches from
plant stems, or closer for new plantings or annuals, which tend to have less shallow roots. When installing,
make every effort to keep the soaker hose as flat as possible to avoid uneven watering.
If you’re installing rows of soaker hoses, space them 12 to 18 inches apart on sandy soil, or 18 to 24 inches apart
on clay or loam soil. For small annuals, space rows of soaker hoses 12 to 18 inches apart regardless of soil type
to ensure their roots receive sufficient water.
Step 5.
Cut off with scissors any excess soaker hose making sure you have clean 90-degree ends. Replace the male
connector and end cap to seal the end. Our new soaker hoses now feature 100% plastic “push-on” connectors
that can be pulled off the hose by working them back and forth and then pushed back on.
Step 6.
Connect the soaker hose to the water source via the female connector. If the soaker hose is near an outdoor faucet,
connect the hose directly to the faucet; otherwise, you must connect the soaker hose to the faucet via a regular garden hose.
The female connector of the soaker hose contains a patented, blue restrictor disc that reduces the flow of water by
restricting the water through a very small hole. It also reduces the water pressure because of this restriction.
It’s intended to be used only at the water source (either the faucet or the garden hose). Without the blue restrictor
disc in place, you can very easily overpower the hose. The water pressure will cause the soaker hose to weep too much
water within the first few feet of the hose and have little or no flow further on.
When connecting multiple lengths of soaker hose, you should remove any additional blue restrictor discs
to allow for an even flow and pressure along the entire length of the the hose.