Rejuvenate an old leaky hose by making it a drip hose.
Plants are far healthier when you water them from below and don't get their leaves wet. Dampness on the leaves of a plant invites a host of different molds to grow. The best way to keep your plants healthy and water the roots at the same time is to use a drip hose. A drip hose allows a little water to seep out at specific places on the hose so you soak the ground evenly without the potential of diseases from overhead watering. This also saves water. You can create your own drip hose from an old hose. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Find an old hose. You don't need one in perfect shape because you're going to drill holes in it. If you have one with a slight leak, that's not a problem. You can often find these free or low cost at garage sales and sites such as Craigslist and Freecycle.
2. Position the hose in the garden, winding it in and out so it lies next to the plants you want to water. If you use a drip hose for rows of plants, simply lay the hose straight between the rows.
3. Mark one or two spots on the hose near each plant you need to water. You'll make holes at these spots so the water flows out slowly.
4. Drill holes in the places you marked. The holes should be large enough to allow a small stream of water but not so large you'll lose all the pressure near the end of the hose. Use the smallest drill bit or use a screw to make the holes. If you use a screw, simply twist it into the hose until you make a hole and then remove it.
5. Attach a cap on the far end of the hose. You can use an old sprayer nozzle that stops the flow of water.
6. Attach the other end of the hose to a length of hose long enough to reach the water source. Try to make the length match your needs without extra hose lying coiled, which could cause kinks.
7. Cover the hose with mulch to help prevent evaporation of the water. You'll need to run the water through the drip hose at least twice a week for normal conditions. Use it less if you have damp weather and more if the weather is dry. Check the soil dampness around the plants to make sure it's adequately soaked. Run the water longer if necessary.
Tags: drip hose, make holes, need water