• A hose come in a number of different sizes and lengths.They can range from 1/4", to a 1/2", to 5/8" inch thickness. You can purchase 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet in length.
• The purpose of the soaker hose is to allow water to disperse directly in the ground. The tiny holes in the hose or drip system slowly release water directly throughout your gardens.
• The tubing can be run throughout an entire garden. Two hoses can be brought together by what is called a connector. There are Y and T connectors. The hose above has a Y connector and you can direct two other hoses off this connector.
• You can put soaker tubing on a bank or slope. Do not install it vertically as the water will flow down the embankment. Put the hoses horizontally!
• When installing the hose, loosely wrap around a shrub or run it along side your plants. If you are doing a garden with a lot of different plants, I usually recommend the wrap around method as each plant will be watered evenly.
• The depth you put each hose should be about four to six inches deep. Don't install below the root systems. Your goal is have the water go directly into soaking the roots.
• Soaker hoses were not made for watering your lawn. You can use a small drip system or soaker hose for a small patch around one to three feet if you have a problem area. Sprinklers or irrigation systems work best for your lawn.
• There are many different types of timers available. This water timer works well and is available at a reasonable price. These timers vary in pricing, but are important if you are on a tight schedule or tend to forget.
• The time of watering with a soaker hose will vary in different locations. The amount of water pressure will also determine how fast the holes are releasing moisture to the soil and plants. Check your local area for water pressure or restrictions. One thing to keep in mind if you are using well water. There are a lot more minerals in well water and the holes could eventually get clogged by the mineral deposits. This is very basic information on soaker hoses and drip systems.

There are different type of irrigation systems available to you. You can install a 570 pop up system by yourself. This is economical and will effectively water the area. There are a couple of different options for you to think about when considering irrigation.

A pop-up or stand up sprinkler are two used by residential and commercial landscaping. The pop - up system is becoming more popular now a days. There is also the spray head that is used mainly in landscape garden areas with shrubs and flowers. The sprinkler pop - up or stand up is geared toward larger areas such as lawns. Many companies are making products available for you and easy instructions on installing their products. All sprinklers or spray heads work in a circular pattern releasing water and force at different intervals. The two types of sprinklers should not be put on the same irrigation system. Decide which one would work for you. If your main goal is watering your lawn, I would recommend the sprinkler head. As with the soaker hoses, a timer is a good investment.

Another option is to have an irrigation system installed by a professional. These systems are more expensive but if it can be figure it into your budget, I feel the system will pay for itself in a few years. Most installers will have or rent a ditch witch to dig a trench. Piping will be put in the trench and connected to your water system. In irrigation systems you will have a number of different zones installed. How many zones will depend on the total square feet you want to cover along with your water pressure capabilities.