Hot weather is expected to remain right through to Friday, with parts of the UK having experienced temperatures as high as 31C this week. Temperatures are expect to drop beyond Friday and be cooler over the weekend, with some rain also forecast in parts of the country. Though flowers and plants need sunlight to thrive, experts have warned gardeners might need to reassess their watering schedule.
While most green-thumbed Britons know the importance of increasing their watering schedule during periods of hot weather and sunshine, they might not realise there are certain times of the day you should be focussing on watering your plants.
Typically, on a hot and sunny day, plants go through their own weight in water, which means you need to ensure there is enough time for the soil to soak up the water. Experts from Gardens Illustrated explain that watering your plants too late in the day could mean they don’t have enough time to absorb the water before the sun burns it away.
“General advice is to avoid watering in full sun, however, because water will evaporate before it can properly wet the soil,” explained the experts.
Not only should you increase your watering schedule, but the experts also recommend avoiding watering during the hottest periods of the day.
“Water plants in the soil in the garden in the morning or evening,” they said. They suggest using cold water from the tap or hose.
“Water plants in the soil in the garden in the morning or evening,” the experts added.
In the current hot weather, watering plants and flowers in the early evening gives the plants enough time to dry out, but there is still enough time for the roots to uptake water overnight.
If you prefer to water in the morning then it’s best to start early before the sun is shining. You should avoid watering at the peak of the day, especially during the midday heat when the sun is high in the sky.
It is best to water plants at the root, to ensure they get enough. Though watering the leaves will not cause burning it can abet fungal disease in certain plants and flowers.
