As the UK finds itself in the midst of a mini heatwave, gardeners are being warned to avoid a common mistake when watering their plants which can lead to “plant death”.
Gardening enthusiasts take note: scorching sun and high temperatures above 30 degrees can pose a problem for your green oasis.
But fear not, gardening experts have given top tips for keeping your garden thriving amid the heatwave. While some are basking in the glory of sunny days, dreaming of splashes in paddling pools and sizzling barbecues, those with a passion for gardening are worried about the survival of their prized plants.
But there’s no need to worry, as horticultural experts have dished out their wisdom on how to avoid common mistakes, ensuring your garden remains a green haven even as the mercury rises. Mark Lane, TV personality and QVC gardening expert, has dropped a crucial tip: when it comes to hydration, timing is key.
Lane has sounded the alarm: “One of the worst mistakes you can make is watering your plants at the wrong time.” Lane recommends that the best time to water is early in the morning, ideally between 5am and 9am, to minimise evaporation losses, the Express reports.
If you skip watering in the morning, you can still water in the afternoon, as long as you give the plants enough time to “dry out quickly, which helps protect them against the development of fungal diseases.” However, according to Mark, the evening is definitely a no-no time to water. He warns, “Watering at night can cause water to pool on the soil surface, around roots, and on foliage, which can lead to fungal growth, rot, insects, and even the death of a plant.”
Gardeners may be wondering how much to water their plants during scorching weather, but experts say “less is more” when it comes to hydration in a heatwave. Overwatering can be a rookie mistake when the mercury rises, as it’s easy to think your greenery needs extra water. But this isn’t always the case.
Henry Bartlam, founder of Dig, has some sage advice: “Don’t water your plants every day with little water. It’s better to give them a good watering every other day (especially in hot climates) than to water them quickly every day.
“There’s no exact science to it, but if the soil looks nice and moist and doesn’t dry out quickly, you’ve probably done a good job. Be careful not to overwater and saturate the soil, though, as this could not only harm the plants, but also waste valuable water.”
The plant expert suggests a simple feel-good test to help you water wisely: if the soil feels damp, leave it there for a while, but don’t let it go for a week. And while it’s not the end of the world, Henry advises against planting during a heatwave to give beginners the best chance of thriving. He clarifies: “It’s not ideal to plant things when it’s this hot, especially if they’re small, tender plants.”
However, if you are keen to start planting, she says to make sure the soil is prepared and moist, avoid midday sun and, after storing the plants, give them a generous watering. Gardening gurus have calmed fears about parched lawns during the scorching summer, insisting that vegetation will bounce back when temperatures drop.
Jonathan Hill, Sales Director at Rolawn, said: “Trying to keep grass green during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather can be an unnecessary waste of time, effort and water.
“During a heatwave, your grass may lose colour or turn brown and go dormant, but don’t worry, if the grass is of good quality it should recover quickly when it rains, as it inevitably will.”
