A soaker hose with scalable permeable surface area and method for selecting and controlling which areas to be watered. The soaker hose with scalable permeable surface area and method includes a hose having a wall with a plurality of perforations disposed about and through the wall and along the length of the hose and also having ends and a passageway extending though the length of the hose and through the ends, for moving water to specified locations; and a sheathing arrangement including at least one sleeve movably disposed about the hose to prevent the water exiting through the perforations which are covered by the at least one sleeve.