Question
Jim, I am getting ready to do my entire landscaping.  My plan is to use a drip system throughout.  Does it work effectivly to use soaker hoses underground for lawn?  If so what are your installation suggestions regarding depth and distance apart from each run or loop?  Thanks...John

Answer
Hi John Bauers,

>>"...soaker hoses underground for lawn...?"

There's good news and bad news in regards to soaker-hoses.

Soaker hoses are an excellent way to water lawns and gardens when applied to the SOIL SURFACE 'top-side'.  In gardens they even work better when placed under so many inches of mulch to help prevent moisture loss from evaporation.

However, (now the bad news),...and this is my opinion on the matter,...soaker hoses will be a maintenance nightmare if buried into the ground.  They will constantly become variously clogged and in-efficient and need adjustments. The drainage factors of the root-zone will very likely tend to develop 'pockets and pooling' in the root-zone.  And 'micro-sink-holes' may develop.  The only possible way such a system might even begin to be practical is if the soil has the consistency of a 'hydroponic medium',...or a very aerated and loose consistency like perlite, mulch or compost. Most residential lawn soils are simply too dense for a buried soaker system to be practical, and,... as far as I know, no one markets or uses such a system installed in the root-zone proper.

Instead,...Work on way to more efficiently place your soaker hoses ON TOP of the lawn's soil, and forget about burying a system is my advice. With certain grass-types,...Some soaker systems (and tubing-types)  may be placed nestled into the turf-grass (and on top of the soil-substrate) so they can stay invisibly in place and not be disturbed by mowing events.

Better still, invest in a commercial irrigation/sprinkler configuration with a computer moderated hydration software module. This can insure your lawn is properly watered effortlessly, saving the homeowner time and money over the years.

Also, if you are revamping the entire lawn and landscape,...invest in adding SOIL AMENDMENTS and organic matter to the existing top-soil.  This will make the soil more 'sponge-like' so it will need less watering.  'Rich-Mix' top-soils and commercial composts are cheap and can be delivered to your lot for roto-tilling into the root-zone to improve the hydration index of the top-soil. These amendments also improve soil fertility.

RainBird offers both in-the-ground and top-side drip
irrigation components and systems:
http://www.rainbird.com/
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With a good fertile-loamy well draining top-soil, best quality hybrid grass type(s), 1-3 inches of water per week, plenty of sun-light, ...almost anyone can have an excellent lawn with a minimum maintenance effort.
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I Hope this has answered your question(s)!

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