Drip irrigation is more customizable, but soaker hoses are easier to use
Drip irrigation systems are more costly but precise and customizable, while soaker hoses are less expensive but less precise in watering abilities.
Soaker hoses can only handle relatively small areas, whereas drip irrigation can cover significant square footage.
The type of watering system is right for you will depend on your gardening style and goals.
Whether you’re growing the components of your next salad in your backyard or trying to beautify your outdoor space with some flowers, deciding whether to water with drip irrigation vs. a soaker hose is an important decision.
Both drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses can simplify the process of keeping your plants hydrated, but each method has its own drawbacks, benefits, and best practices, which, of course, we’ve broken down for you below. Let’s take a closer look at drip irrigation versus soaker hoses.
A drip irrigation system is made up of a series of flexible tubing with small holes, or “emitters,” at regular intervals to deliver water evenly and slowly into the soil. They’re highly customizable; you can direct water flow to specific areas of your garden and reduce it elsewhere, creating various watering “zones” that can work well for large gardens or those with many different types of plants.
A soaker hose is a porous hose, much like a garden hose, except water seeps or “weeps” out of its surface. Like a drip irrigation system, this means a soaker hose can deliver water slowly and continuously to your plants at ground level, but soaker hoses are less customizable than their drip irrigation counterparts. They are also, however, cheaper and easier to install up front.
Drip irrigation involves a series of tubes, usually made of polyethylene plastic, dotted with holes, or emitters, from which water can emerge and hydrate your plants. The emitters are spaced regularly along the tubes, which you can configure to run along each row of your garden in multiple zones, and in some cases you can fit the emitters yourself, allowing for even more customization.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly customizable | More work to set up |
| Deliver water directly to the roots | Emitters can clog, requiring maintenance |
| Can work on sloped planting areas | More costly |
Drip irrigation installation is a process, so it’s best reserved for specific types of gardeners and farmers. Drip irrigation is best for:
Large gardens with multiple zones: These systems can be controlled remotely so different zones can be watered at different times.
Long-term watering solutions: Drip irrigation systems are long-term systems that are professionally installed and meant to last up to 15 years.
Food crops: Food crops that need to be watered more regularly will benefit from the consistency drip irrigation can offer.
Check out these advantages of drip irrigation.
Customizable for large gardens: Drip irrigation systems are highly customizable, making them easy to retrofit for large gardens with multiple zones, even if each of those zones has different watering needs.
Set on a timer: These systems can be set on a timer so that you can water at regular intervals without thinking about it, including overnight—which can help avoid the quick evaporation that can occur in hot climates.
Ensures even watering: Drip irrigation systems are also compatible with pressure-compensating emitters which can ensure even watering, even if you garden in an area with a slope.
Built to last: Drip line irrigation systems are usually durable enough to last several seasons (though less expensive drip tape options, which are a flatter style of tubing, may only last a year or two).
Easy to repair: If part of the drip irrigation system becomes damaged, it’s relatively easy to repair a portion of it without needing to replace the whole thing. You can usually splice and fix that area easily without any special tools or much know-how.
Check out these disadvantages of drip irrigation.
Professional installation: Drip irrigation systems require installation from a local sprinkler professional to the complex and time-consuming nature, but it’s worth it to get high-quality results.
Larger expense than alternatives: Drip irrigation systems tend to cost more upfront than soaker hoses, though this makes sense because they’re much more precise, capable, and built for larger gardens.
Need regular maintenance: From time to time, the emitters in a drip irrigation system can become clogged. Additionally, the wind might occasionally blow your drip irrigation system awry and cause the water to be misdirected away from the plants’ roots. However, both of these problems are easily remedied with regular inspection and basic maintenance.
Drip irrigation is a highly efficient and effective method of watering plants, particularly in parts of the country where water is limited. These systems deliver water directly to your plant’s roots, reducing water and runoff while more effectively watering your plants. In desert climates where water conservation is crucial, drip irrigation is your best solution.
If you have sloped land that’s frequently a victim of water runoff, drip irrigation prevents this issue by directing water deeper into the soil. This method also helps with soil erosion, which is often caused by excess water. Greenhouses benefit from drip irrigation since these systems can be controlled on a timer to deliver water only when needed.
Food crops that need more frequent watering can benefit from drip irrigation, particularly for long-term farmers who need consistent, long-lasting solutions. Drip irrigation may be costly to install at first, but the system lasts longer than other options.
A soaker hose is a tube, usually made of a combination of rubber and polyethylene plastic, that looks much like a garden hose—but a leaky one. Water seeps from the surface of the hose, which allows it to be used in a similar way as a drip irrigation system—though it’s less precise and customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ground-level watering that can reduce fungal growth on plants | Less customizable; only about 200 feet of length available |
| Easy installation | No pressure compensation available, so not best used on slopes |
| They usually don’t clog | More difficult to repair if damaged |
Soaker hoses work best in the following scenarios:
Small gardens: Flower gardens and neighborhood gardens can benefit from a soaker hose since they don’t need deep watering.
Gardens that need less frequent watering: Non-food crops that don’t need to be watered frequently will do just fine with a soaker hose system.
Those looking for affordable systems: Soaker hoses are much more affordable than entire drip irrigation systems, so gardeners on a budget should consider this option instead.
Check out these advantages of drip irrigation.
Affordable: Soaker hoses are affordable irrigation solutions that you can purchase at any garden center or home improvement store. Available in a large range of prices, soaker hoses are less expensive than drip irrigation systems.
Easy to install: Easy to install by simply connecting them to a water source, soaker hoses can be laid along the ground where your plants are growing.
Set on a timer: Although you can manually turn on soaker hoses by turning on the water source, they can be used on a timer to help save water and add extra convenience.
Typically clog-free system: Soaker hoses are not prone to clogging, making them easy to maintain.
Check out these disadvantages of drip irrigation.
Limited customizability: Soaker hoses have a much more limited capacity (compared to drip irrigation systems) when it comes to customization. They’re only a single length of tubing, and they’re usually only available in lengths of up to 200 feet or so—because after that, the water flow will decrease.
Don’t work well on slopes: Soaker hoses don’t have pressure compensation, which means they don’t work well at providing even watering on a sloped area.
Not as precise as drip irrigation systems: Although they can provide a constant stream of ground-level water, soaker hoses are not as precise as drip irrigation systems, which can be aimed directly at plants’ roots.
Difficult to repair: Damaged soaker hoses are harder to repair than drip irrigation systems.
Can’t be buried underground: Soaker hoses can’t be buried underground and must be placed along, or close to, the ground surface. However, you can layer a few inches of mulch on top of a soaker hose to prevent deterioration due to sun exposure.
Soaker hoses, essentially long garden hoses perforated with tiny holes that steadily release water, are a simple irrigation system for small gardens. Providing easy ground-level watering, these hoses are affordable and easy to install for almost any gardener.
However, you’ll want to seek out an alternative irrigation option, such as a drip irrigation system, if you are growing food, since most soaker hoses contain rubber. Rubber often contains an additive known as BPA, which can be harmful when ingested and can leech into your crops. That said, BPA-free soaker hoses are available.
Comparing a soaker hose versus drip irrigation all depends on your individual needs. Here’s which product wins in the following categories.
Drip irrigation systems are far and away more customizable than soaker hoses, though that customizability comes with more required setup and a higher cost.
With the exception of tape-style drip irrigation systems, which tend not to last as long, drip irrigation systems have greater durability than soaker hoses, especially since they can be easily repaired without needing to be replaced.
For gardeners looking for a quick and affordable watering solution, soaker hoses offer a more attractive price up front.
Soaker hoses are also as easy as possible to install: They simply must be hooked up to water and then snaked along your garden.
Still not sure which system is right for you—or just want a professional to handle your garden setup? Your local sprinkler professional can assess your landscaping needs and provide you with the right equipment to keep your plants happy and thriving.
It depends on your specific gardening needs. While a soaker hose provides a quick and affordable fix for smaller planted areas, drip irrigation systems are far more customizable and give serious gardeners the opportunity to create watering zones for plants with different needs. However, drip irrigation systems come at a higher upfront cost and take more time and effort to install than soaker hoses do.
Soaker hoses are less customizable than a drip irrigation system, and their watering method is also less precise. They can’t be used for very large gardens or for different watering “zones,” and because they lack pressure compensation, they can’t be used on sloped areas. They are, however, more affordable and easy to set up than drip irrigation systems.
Soaker hoses should not be buried under the soil, as doing so can clog the material that allows them to “weep” water into the ground. However, they can be covered with a few inches of mulch in order to help keep them from sun damage, which they can be prone to over time.
The length of time you need to let your soaker hose run will depend on what kind of plants you’re growing and what the climate is like in your area. In very hot, dry conditions, you may need to run your soaker hose for as long as 45 minutes per day a few times per week to make sure your plants are hydrated, while in less extreme climates, 15 or 20 minutes a day for two or three days a week may suffice.
