How to Recycle a Leaky Garden Hose Into a Soaker Hose

A soaker hose can be put in place in the soil before or after planting.

Instead of throwing away an old garden hose, make good use of those holes and leaks. Give it new life by adding more holes and recycling it into a soaker hose for use in flower beds or vegetable gardens.

Things You'll Need

• Old garden hose with holes or leaks in tubing
• Electric drill with 1/16-inch bit or sharp ice pick
• Plastic hose end cap
• Garden hose in good condition

Instructions

1. Make a hole through the hose with a drill or ice pick. Rotate the hose a quarter-turn; drill or punch next set of holes about 2 inches away from first holes. Work from one end of the hose to the other, repeating the procedure along the length of the hose.

2. Tightly screw a hose end cap on the hose's male end -- the one with the threads on the outside.

3. Position the female hose end, with the threads inside, nearest to outdoor water source, lay hose in a winding pattern near plants through flower or vegetable garden. Attach the soaker hose to a garden hose in good condition; connect the hose to the 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.

4. Bury the soaker hose in a garden or flower bed, if desired. 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.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Gardening in Michigan - Silence of the Soaker Hoses