The UK is set to bask in hot weather through until Friday, with temperatures set to be cooler at the weekend. But gardeners have been warned they need to be careful when watering their plants
The UK is set to bask in continued hot weather until Friday, with some areas already hitting highs of 31C this week.
However, temperatures are expected to take a dip after Friday, cooling off over the weekend and bringing some rainfall to certain regions. While sunshine is essential for plants to flourish, gardening aficionados are being advised to reconsider their watering routines. Gardeners are well aware that during hot spells, it’s crucial to step up the watering game, but many may not know the optimal times for hydrating their greenery.
On a scorching day, plants can consume an amount of water equivalent to their own weight, so it’s vital to give the soil enough time to absorb moisture. The team at Gardens Illustrated has highlighted that watering plants too late could result in the sun evaporating the water before it benefits the soil.
“General advice is to avoid watering in full sun, however, because water will evaporate before it can properly wet the soil,” the gardening gurus advise, reports the Express. It’s not just about increasing how often you water, but also about choosing the right time to do it, steering clear of the day’s peak temperatures.
“Water plants in the soil in the garden in the morning or evening,” they recommend, suggesting the use of cool tap or hose water. Water plants in the soil in the garden in the morning or evening,” they reiterated. 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.
