Article: Selecting a hose doesn't have to tie you up in knots.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Hoses aren't just pieces of rubber.

They are plants' lifeline to much-needed water _ especially in a drought. Getting the right hose isn't complicated, but there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a new one.

For flower and vegetable beds, soaker hoses come highly recommended. Made of a porous material, these hoses allow water to seep out directly into the ground. The key here is the word "directly": soaker hoses are very good at getting water where it needs to be, said Kerry Smith, interpretive horticulturist for the education department at Callaway Gardens in Georgia.

"The soaker hose would be superior to an ordinary sprinkler ...

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