When to Water Your Plants

Plants need water, this is a known fact. However, WHEN you water will make or break your garden. Under watering will dehydrate and kill your plants, over watering will drown and kill your plants… watering at the wrong times will also put your plants at risk. Here is a list of our tips for a good watering schedule.

When

Morning:

Morning, ideally between 6am and 10am, is preferred. At this time of the day the temperature is mild and the sun is not too strong.

Evening:

Although evening watering is not preferred, it is still ok. Anytime between 6pm and 9pm will work. It may be odd to hear but plants also like to rest so they often times won’t drink as much water in the evenings and you thereby risk drowning them if you water too much.

NEVER the Afternoon:

Between 12pm and 3pm the sun is at it’s peak and its strongest. In simpler terms, its HOT.  If you water your plants in the afternoon, you risk literally boiling the plants roots. If it is not hot enough to boil the plants roots, then the best case scenario is the sun evaporates much of the water before your plant has the time to get its fill. So, although you think you provided an adequate amount of water, your plant will still be left thirsty.

How Much

When explaining how much to water, its best not to give a cookie cutter answer as all plants and flower beds/planters are different. The location of the planters/beds, the type of plant and the natural drainage of water all play a role in what is required. We recommend the following:

1. Educate yourself on the type of plants you have and the amount of water they require. Some plants like a constantly moist (not drenched) soil, some plants enjoy the soil to dry out before you offer them a big thirst quenching gulp of water. Mixed with the condition of the soil (drainage) this means that you may have to water the plants daily or you may only have to give them a big drink twice a week.
2. When you first set up your flower bed or planter and give it a thorough watering, keep a close eye on how long it takes for the water to penetrate. This will give you and idea of the drainage. Towards the end of the day and every following day stick your finger into the soil near the base of the plant as far as it will go without damage and feel if the soil is still moist or is it dry. This method will help you judge the frequency of watering required based on drainage and how much the plant can drink.
3. Before we all go off to work we take a quick look at what the weather man suggests will be the expected weather for that day to know how to dress and whether or not we need rain boots and an umbrella in tow. Give it an extra minute and take a look at what the full week projection will be (amount of precipitation if any). If you have a set schedule for watering based off the above to suggestions, you may have to tweak it a bit if they are calling for heavy thunderstorms. Again, you don’t want to drown the plants. Likewise, if they are predicting weeks of low humidity and high temperatures with not a drop of rain in the forecast, you may have to add in an additional day or two of watering because the water will evaporate far faster than normal.

As now two properties are alike you are the best judge of your own property. Take the time to get to know it and it’s needs. Once you do that lush gardens will be a simple and beautiful part of your everyday life.