Keeping foundation watered?

[Pete53FR]

I have soaker hoses that go around house and turn on 2 x a week for 5 to 6 hours. Seems to be working although last Saturday we got almost and inch of rain which works better.

If you don't deep water with the heat and little rain it will crack your home like a walnut.

[5stones]

10min per cycle is not enough. you need to DEEP water. Deep watering 3x week is much bettertahn 10min every day. All that does is cause your roots to grow shallow where the water is, is doesn't soak down.

3x per week at 30-40minutes should normally do it during the hot summer. But this year with the drought you will need more to keep the soil stable.

This is what I am doing during this unusually hot summer... try to conserve water while keeping foundation good and trees from dying...
Foundation every other day for 35 minutes (that's only 3 stations)
Shurbs and trees I am doing 2x a week for 35minutes + I use a soaker for delicate trees, (magnolias, holy's are really stressing!)
(I only use the grass sprinklers 1x a week, it's burmuda and it wont die. esp those way out by the side walk)

[househunter1970]

Originally Posted by Pete53FR

I have soaker hoses that go around house and turn on 2 x a week for 5 to 6 hours. Seems to be working although last Saturday we got almost and inch of rain which works better.

If you don't deep water with the heat and little rain it will crack your home like a walnut.

Can someone explain how you have the soaker hose installed.

Below are few questions that I have on this topic.

1. Do you run the soaker hose around the perimeter of the house.
2. Some areas around the foundation have flowerbed, so do we need to run different timers (less watering) for areas that have flowerbed and retain moisture
3. Type of soaker hose
4. Do I need to bury the hose or can I just leave it over the soil.
5. What type of timers to use
6. Distance from the foundation? Is 6" a good distance?

I looked up few "How To" videos online and found the below one to be very informative. But, before I go shopping and start working on the installation, I want to seek feedback from any first hand experience


Prep Your Foundation for the Summer With a Soaker Hose - YouTube

Appreciate any/all responses.

Thanks.
Househunter1970

[Pete53FR]

The soaker hose is laid around the foundation from three faucets. I put about 5 to 10 inches from foundation, Each hose is 100 ft long

[househunter1970]

Originally Posted by Pete53FR

The soaker hose is laid around the foundation from three faucets. I put about 5 to 10 inches from foundation, Each hose is 100 ft long

Thanks! The information is useful.