Things You'll Need:
- Old garden hose with holes or leaks in tubing
- Electric drill with 1/16" bit or sharp ice pick
- Plastic hose end cap (can be found at hardware store or home center)
- Garden hose in good condition
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Step 1
Find a good work space to manage drilling or punching holes in the lengthy hose. Starting at one end of hose, use drill or ice pick to make holes completely through hose. Rotate hose a quarter-turn; drill or punch next set of holes about 2 inches away from first holes. Repeat procedure along the length of the hose.
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Step 2
Tightly screw a hose end cap on the hose's male end (connector threads on outside).
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Step 3
Positioning female hose end (threads inside) nearest to outdoor water source, lay hose in a winding pattern near plants through flower or vegetable garden. Attach soaker hose to a garden hose in good condition; connect to hydrant or water source. Turn water on. When water has reached soaker hose, adjust the flow of water to only a trickle. Leave water on for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or as needed.
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Step 4
If desired, the soaker hose can be buried in a garden or flower bed. Make a shallow trench in a winding pattern through soil, 3 to 4 inches deep. Start with the female end nearest outdoor water source. Leave about 6 inches of hose extending out of ground to serve as connector to good hose, and lay remaining hose in trench. Cover with soil and tamp down. Attach exposed end of soaker to good hose to connect with water source; follow directions in Step 3 to start the water flow.
Comments
joni04 said
on 7/10/2009 Great idea, I never thought of doing this with those leaky hoses.
strvnwritr said
on 6/16/2009 Great idea, thanks!
jdds08 said
on 6/15/2009 Now this is a really helpful idea, especially for those concerned with sustainable living.
dorigillman said
on 6/12/2009 great idea.
oimdiane said
on 6/12/2009 This is a great idea! Love the idea of re-using, recycling something many of us would just throw away. In fact, come to think of it, I've got to tell my husband to stop throwing away the old hoses! LOL!