Never water plants from ‘above’ or risk ‘damage’ and ‘weakening’ - what to do instead
Watering plants throughout the summer months is crucial, allowing them to grow, but it can be hard to get it right. An expert has shared various ways to make sure you are watering correctly.
Gardening: How to create a watering tool for your plants
It is important to also use watering wisely as multiple areas of the UK faced hosepipe bans last year due to the heatwave.
The director of Polhill Garden Centre, Josh Novell, has shared recommendations on what to be doing in the summer.
1. Use the correct pots
Josh explained: “Using pots with little drainage will ensure that your plants will not get waterlogged all whilst ensuring that your plants have an adequate supply of water during hot weather.
“This also applies to hanging baskets and containers. You could use water-storing granules for easy watering, which act as an insurance policy against under-watering.
“Peat-free mixes aren’t as good as retaining water, so for containers and hanging baskets, the granules are very handy.”
READ MORE: ‘Boost’ property value by £14,500 with ‘sought-after’ and ‘timeless’ flooring [LATEST]
Terracotta pots look great in the garden but they are porous meaning they’ll absorb some of the water you give the plants, so make sure to keep an eye.
2. Water plants at the base
The expert continued: “Watering plants at the base ensures that water will evaporate from the soil and not from your plants.
“Evaporation from flowers and leaves can dry out your plants and cause fungal infections which can be detrimental to their health.
“The majority of garden plants are better off being watered at the bottom. Watering plants from above can cause many issues and damage your plant health such as plant weakening, reduced flowering and reduced photosynthesis.”
Don't miss...
Household items ‘leading to major blockages’ in your drains [LATEST]
Four expert-approved DIY tips to make painting much ‘easier’ [EXPERT]
Three gardening ‘mistakes’ to ‘avoid’ or risk plants being at ‘optimal health’ [COMMENT]
Some conditions include rust, powdery mildew and black spot which can reduce flowering and is commonly seen on roses
Gardeners can also improve air coruscation around plants by pruning, thinning and spacing them properly, making sure to do all of this at the correct time.
Josh continued: “June is still within the prime planting season for various types of plants, including annuals, vegetables, and herbs.
“It’s the perfect time to take advantage of the remaining time before the hotter months to establish new plants. However, it is also important to take extra care of them in hotter conditions.”
3. Watering at the correct time of day
According to the expert, the “correct” time of the day is in the morning, if you have time to water the plants then.
Josh said: “To ensure that evaporation doesn’t damage your plants, it is best to water them in the morning or in the evening. This is due to the fact that evaporation can dry out your plants.”
Watering in the evening may attract slugs however, especially if the weather is particularly humid.