how to use a soaker hose in shrubs
Place the soaker hose too far away from shallow-rooted annuals, and they won't get enough water. Place it against the stem of a perennial and you create a haven for disease. When rolling out a soaker hose to water annuals, place it about 4 inches from stems. For large plants, like trees and shrubs, place the hose further away, about 12 to 24 inches, from the stem or trunk so water drips down over the roots.