Regular watering in the summer helps keep plants hydrated, but it’s important to get it right.
This means that the garden plants are watered at the right time of the day, not over- or under-watered.
Although many people may think that evening watering is best, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has recommended morning.
They said, “Water in the morning if you can, because that’s when the sun rises and the plants start using water.
“The broadcast and soil surface are also likely to stay drier longer than evening watering, which prevents slugs, snails and mildew.
“Plants begin to transpire in sunlight, drawing water from the soil through their roots, up their stems, and out through tiny pores called stomata in their leaves.”
If you don’t have time in the morning, watering in the evening is not a bad thing, but it can encourage snails.
Watering in the heat of the day is not a good idea because a lot of water is lost by evaporation from the soil surface.
According to experts, plants use water much more efficiently if they are watered in cooler times.
The experts added: “There is no simple rule of thumb for watering as each plant has different needs – for example, a container plant in hot sunny weather needs watering daily, while a mature shrub only needs a drink in extreme drought.
“It’s good to remember that plants use more water if they are offered more water, so you can let them dry out a little between waterings and they don’t have to be wet all the time.
Signs that more watering may be needed are wilting, pots becoming lighter in weight, leaves that look dull or have lost their luster, and slower than expected leaf growth.
It is important to keep some plants moist, for example in hanging baskets.
If the soil is left to dry out completely, it can be difficult to re-moisten the soil, so water them regularly.
