Gardening experts name 'best time' to water plants - it's not in the morning
Watering your plants at the right time of day is vital - but many gardeners may not be aware of the best time to do it. A gardening expert has shared the perfect time to give your plants a drink
You should water your plants at a specific time
(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS )
Garden enthusiasts, take note: there's an optimal time to water your plants, especially when in hot weather. The key reason for this is to reduce evaporation, ensuring that plants can soak up moisture before it's whisked away by the warm air.
Choosing the right time to water your garden not only conserves water but also helps stave off plant diseases and reduces stress on your greenery. There are additional rules to follow, like steering clear of watering from above and using the correct type of water for specific plants.
However, the overarching principle remains that there's an ideal time for watering outdoor plants to achieve the best results.
The green-fingered experts at Blooming Expert suggest that late afternoon or early evening, specifically between 4pm and 6pm while there's still a hint of daylight and warmth, is the "best time" to water your garden plants.
They highlight that watering plants in the early evening is "better than letting them suffer irreversible damage until the next morning", reports the Express. In periods of hot weather, soil can lose moisture rapidly, leaving plants in dire need of hydration to pull through.
For those tending to their plants in the late evening, it's advisable to water more directly at the root zone rather than the leaves, as damp leaves can lead to disease.
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On the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page, green-fingered enthusiasts shared their thoughts on the optimal time to water plants, with most favouring the evening.
This is the best time to water plants
(Image: Getty )
Shannon R-Lease said: "I do evenings. When the sun sets over the house. Between five and 5.30pm."
Margaret Collinsworth wrote: "I like to water in the evenings. It gives the plants overnight to drink."
Shane Paul said: "I do my plants in the evening, but lawn sprinklers are set to go off at 6am for 30 minutes. Shouldn't leave a lawn damp overnight on purpose (obvs can't help if it rained), can lead to more disease growth, and middle of the day, it just evaporates and can't soak into the ground."
Jack Pockl added: "Water in the evening - the plant and soil retain more moisture. Watering in the morning or afternoon allows the water to evaporate, so less water is held in the soil for the roots."
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The quantity of water a plant requires will fluctuate based on its location, variety, the soil, and other factors.
For example, most plants will receive adequate water from spring rains and only need additional watering during dry spells.
Then, when summer arrives, they might require a substantial amount of water depending on the temperatures.
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