'Best hours' to water plants to avoid ‘killing them'
Gardening is a pursuit for all seasons, but as we delve deeper into the British summer, certain tasks become paramount, particularly watering. It's crucial for gardeners to water their plants diligently to ensure their stunning blooms thrive.
Each plant is made up of 80% water, with roots being the only means of hydration, making proper watering essential. A common blunder committed by many gardeners during the sweltering summer weather is watering at unsuitable times of the day.
According to gardening experts at MNLGrowkits, there's a two-hour window that's considered the "best time" to water your garden plants.
They advised: "We recommend watering your plants daily in the late afternoon. To be more specific, late afternoon means three to 5pm."
The experts explained that there are two primary reasons to water plants at this time. The first is that plants are sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
They said: "Plants are sensitive to temperature. You should not do anything to the plants that shocks their system.
"Water coming from the tap is almost always cold. So, if you water at noon, when the temperature is scorching hot, you'll be shocking the plants' system.
"That time, when the sun is almost setting, is perfect because the temperature has already started dropping. In addition, there is also enough sun to aid in water evaporation."
The second reason is to avoid root rot and fungus growth. Root rot happens when you put too much water and it has the chance to evaporate. During the noon in summer is the perfect environment for fungus to grow.
The gardeners said: "This fungus attacks the roots of the plants, killing them in the process. The plant suffers because it's not able to absorb the water and nutrients it needs."
Endorsing this view, Phostrogen's horticultural experts suggest that timing your watering is everything, especially in varying seasons. Their advice reads: "In spring and autumn, water early in the morning, but in the summer, it can be best to wait until the early evening as watering during full sun can burn the plants.
It turns out, the timing of your garden sprinkling is just as key as the quantity you're pouring. With higher temperatures, less can indeed be more where hydration is concerned.
Henry Bartlam, the green-fingered founder of Dig, warned against mere dribbles for your thirsty greens.
He recommended that it's "better to give them a good soak every couple of days (especially in warmer weather) than a quick splash every day".
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