As we enter July and a searing heatwave settles across much of the UK, it’s tempting to head out with the hose or watering can the moment your plants look a little dry. However, experts warn that even well-intentioned watering can do more harm than good if done at the wrong time of the day. In fact, one of the most common summer gardening mistakes is watering your flowers, and your entire garden, at the wrong hour.
Watering in the heat of the day, especially around midday when the sun is highest, is one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make. Not only is it wasting water, but it can actually damage your plants, one expert has said.
Don Chouinard, Contractor Sales Manager at Irrigreen told Livingetc: “During the summer months, watering at the right time makes a huge difference.
“The biggest landscaping mistake I see is watering at midday. When the sun is high and the temperatures are at their peak, water evaporates really quickly, so your plants don’t get as much benefit.
“Plus, water droplets on leaves can act like tiny magnifying glasses and cause leaf burn. This is especially true when the heat is intense.”
While it might feel intuitive to water when your garden looks hottest and driest, the science says otherwise.
During peak heat, evaporation is more likely and plants are also less able to absorb water efficiently.
Plants absorb water most efficiently in the early morning when their leaf pores, known as stomata, are open, the expert said.
As the day heats up, especially in the afternoon, these pores close to conserve moisture, making it harder for the plants to take in water which is why watering later in the day is less effective.
Not only does watering early in the day allow for better absorption and less evaporation, but it also reduces the risk of disease as it lets leaves dry off during the day.
If you miss the early morning window, it’s best to wait until late afternoon when temperatures begin to cool down.