As the UK is hit by a mini-heatwave, gardeners are being warned to avoid common mistakes when it comes to watering plants – as they could lead to “plant death”.
Make sure you water your flowers at the right times of day (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Gardening enthusiasts, take note: the scorching sun and rising temperatures above 30 degrees could spell trouble for your green oasis.
But fear not, gardening experts have shared their top tips for keeping your garden blooming during the heatwave. While some people are soaking up the sun and dreaming of splashing around and barbecues, gardening enthusiasts are working hard to ensure their precious plants survive.
But fear not, as gardening experts share their tips on avoiding common mistakes to ensure your garden remains a lush refuge as temperatures rise. Television personality and QVC's go-to gardening expert, Mark Lane, offers some key advice: when it comes to hydration, timing is key.
“Watering your plants at the wrong time is one of the biggest mistakes you can make,” he warns, advising that the best time to water is in the cooler hours of the morning, ideally between 5am and 9am, to minimise evaporation losses, reports the Express.
If you miss your morning watering time, it's also a good idea to water later in the evening, so your plants have enough time to “dry out quickly and prevent the development of fungal diseases.” But you should never water at night, says Mark. He warns: “Watering at night allows water to pool on the surface of the soil, around the roots and on the leaves, which can lead to fungal growth, rot, pests and even plant death.”
Gardeners may be scratching their heads over how much water to give their plants in the scorching heat, but experts say that when it comes to hydrating during a heatwave, “less is more.” As temperatures rise, it's easy to assume that green plants need more water, so overwatering is a common rookie mistake. But that's not always the case.
Dig founder and master gardener Henry Bertram offers some sage advice: “Don't water your plants lightly every day. It's better to give them a deep watering every two or three days (especially in warm weather) than a quick watering every day.”
“There's no exact science to this, but if the soil is reasonably moist and doesn't dry out quickly, you're probably doing well. Be careful not to overwater and saturate the soil, though, as this will ultimately damage your plants and also waste precious water.”
Plant experts suggest a simple touch test for watering wisdom: If the soil feels moist, leave it for a while, but not for a week. It's not the end of the world, but to ensure beginners have a good start, Henry advises avoiding planting during periods of extreme heat. He clarifies that “Planting when it's hot is not ideal, especially for small, delicate plants.”
But if you're in a rush to plant, he says to make sure the soil is prepared and moist, avoid the midday sun, and water your plants thoroughly after they're set in. Gardening experts allay fears about your lawn drying out in the hot summer, insisting that the green will return when temperatures drop.
“Trying to keep your lawn green during extended periods of hot, dry weather can be a waste of time, effort and water,” said Jonathan Hill, sales manager at Rollone.
“During heatwaves, your grass may look dull or brown and go dormant, but don't worry – if your grass is in good quality, it should bounce back quickly once the rain comes, because it always does.”
