Many gardeners may be unaware that there is an optimal time to water plants, particularly during periods of hot weather. Timing matters for several key reasons, the most apparent being the need to avoid evaporation, ensuring plants can absorb moisture before the warmth draws it out of the soil.
Choosing the right time of day to water your garden can also help ward off certain diseases while reducing stress on your plants. Additional basic guidelines include avoiding overhead watering and, in some instances, considering the type of water used, depending on the plant. However, as a general rule, there is a definitive best time to water outdoor plants for maximum results.
Experts Recommend Late Afternoon or Early Evening
According to gardening experts at Blooming Expert, late afternoon or early evening — between four and 6pm, while there is still some light and warmth in the air — is the best time of day to water garden plants. They noted that giving plants a drink in the early evening is better than letting them suffer irreversible damage until the next morning.
During spells of hot weather, soil can dry out rapidly, leaving plants in urgent need of moisture to survive. The aim is that even overnight, residual heat can allow some surface moisture to evaporate, meaning a plant's immediate need for water can outweigh the usual risks associated with evening watering.
Important Tips for Evening Watering
Those who water their plants in the late evening should be careful to direct water towards the root zone rather than the leaves, as damp foliage can quickly lead to disease.
Posting on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page, gardeners shared their views on the optimum time to water plants — with the majority favouring the evening. 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 commented: "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."
Additional Considerations
The quantity of water a plant requires will differ depending on its location, variety, soil type, and various other factors. For example, most plants receive adequate moisture from spring rainfall and only require additional watering during dry spells. However, as summer arrives, they may demand considerably more water depending on the prevailing temperatures.
