Most of them are made from recycled tires and are rubber Melissia. There are some that are made from another kind that resemble regular hoses, but I don't like them because the water doesn't actually get into the soil; it's more like using a long sprinkler! LOL! I just use the black rubber soaker hoses, but I stretch them out as best I can in the sun for a day or two. This makes them "limber up" and straighten out so you can manipulate the hose around in the beds much easier. I also buy these little metel stakes that are U-shaped (about 6-8" long) at Home Depot to secure them where needed. They're really cheap - about $2 for a pack of 25.

You might check some of the garden supply stores online. I think Gardener's Supply carries a lot of different gardening particulars.

Susan

I have a couple I bought at Wal-mart and a couple I got at Ace Hardware (Westlake). What I don't like so much about the ones from Wal-mart is they are only 1/2" diameter. The ones from Ace are 5/8", and I do think they get more water out faster than the smaller ones.

DW, yes, the larger ones are much better. I think I got mine at Home Depot and they have both sizes. I still have one I haven't used yet, but it will be eventually.

I have one of the long wands that emits a gentle watering, like rain. I prefer watering by hand because I can check all my plants that way, too. But, I also have a little circle sprinkler that also produces the "rain" like water, unlike some of the sprinklers on the market do. What I do is turn it over and let it gently water an area instead of using the "fountain" effect.

Susan

Melissia,

To find higher quality soaker hoses, google and use phrasing like "professional quality soaker hoses" or something similar.

Or, go to a website that specializes in irrigation equipment and learn about drip irrigation. There are different kinds of drip irrigation products out there and I think many of them are better than professional-quality soaker hoses. If you want to put "permanent" drip irrigation in beds, it is easy to do and some companies will help you design your layout or at least provide detailed catalogs and videos that show you how to lay out the system for best water flow and tell you the distancess to space the emitters. If you combine a drip system with a timer, you have a pretty easy way to water, but you'll have to adjust or override the timer during periods of heavy rainfall.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Example of A Drip Irrigation Supplier

Yes- I agree that the walmart/homedepot soaker hoses are junk. I usually have mine last a full year but thats it. I've tried pulling them out and storing them during winter then re-use them but I have even had them split in half in my hands. (don't ever move or touch them on a cold day!) Anyways, I just chalk it up to gardening expenses that I have to purchase a new one every early spring.
I like the stakes you can purchase for them, but I have also improvised with snipping off the corners of metal clothes hangers and using those (if I have an excess of hangers.) Anyways, if you have to purchase a soaker hose at Walmart or one of those type stores, make sure you get a hose with a pressure regulator disk/gasket that is in the hook up end of the hose. Its just a plastic round disk with a small hole in it that prevents too much water from putting pressure on the hose. They are all SUPPOSED to have them, but they are so cheap that a lot of the disks fall out by the time they make it to the shelves. You'll know what I mean when you look at a shelf of them. Just make sure you make it home with one that hasn't lost its disk thingie. :)

Cover them with mulch and they will last longer, that is, if you do not puncture them when weeding. Of course still do not try to handle them in the winter.