Do Strawberries Like Soaker Hoses or Sprinklers?

Soaker Hose System Basics

• A soaker hose system uses a collection of different tubing sizes to move water from a main spigot to plants. The water seeps directly into the soil through tiny openings along the system's hoses. Install the hoses about 2 inches from each strawberry plant's crown, which is where the plant roots and stems join. In order to provide the best soil absorption and to avoid soggy conditions, your strawberry plot should be well-drained. As water moves into the ground, well-drained soil remains friable, with ample moisture and air pocket access for spreading strawberry roots.

Disease Prevention

• Sprinkler irrigation covers a large strawberry patch with ample water, but water droplets tend to remain on the foliage. Stagnant water invites pathogens, such as powdery mildew and gray mold, into a strawberry patch. Fungi and bacteria need wet foliage for their proliferation. Soaker hoses, however, keep all irrigation water at the soil level, reducing the occurrence of diseases. Because strawberries have a shallow root system, water from soaker hoses quickly supplies moisture to the roots. If you must use sprinkler irrigation, water your strawberries in morning to allow water droplets to evaporate during the day.

Water Conservation

• Water sprayed through air is often diverted by wind or lost to evaporation. Uniform water coverage across a spreading strawberry garden is difficult with sprinklers. Both container- and garden-grown strawberries can be irrigated easily with soaker hoses, however, and that method reduces water waste. Spread mulch over the soaker hoses and soil to conserve water further at the ground level. Use a moisture meter pressed through the mulch and into the ground to determine your strawberries' watering needs. A soaker hose system often includes a timer, allowing you to set watering times you base on the plants' watering needs.

Stress Reduction

• Strawberry plants produce fewer flowers and fruits when they are under drought-stress than when they are under optimal conditions. Soaker hoses provide consistent moisture, even during the hottest summer days. In general, strawberries need 1 to 2 inches of water each week for vigorous growth and fruiting. Drought-stress causes the plants to direct energy into root and foliage survival rather than flower production. Sprinklers can compound drought-stress if the water droplets they leave on foliage lead to disease or if they provide uneven water coverage.