Garden Rule:
Don't Water at Mid-Day in the Sun

"Don't Water Your Plants in the Middle of the Day!" How many times have you heard that? "Only water your plants in the early mornings or late evenings."

THE CHALLENGE: That's easy to say, but not always easy to do. Do you have time in your busy schedule to water at these "optimal" times? I especially loath the "early in the morning" recommendation. If you have a full time job you might know what I mean. And the "late evening" hardly seems like an advantageous time. Mosquitoes are most active. And plant foliar diseases are more likely (see below).

WATER CONSERVATION: Water will evaporate faster in the intense, mid-day sun. And so the soil surface tends to dry faster. But if water conservation is your prime concern, why not focus on applying a layer of mulch to the soil of your garden bed? This will reduce soil evaporation, no matter what time of the day you water.

Rather than using a garden sprinkler, installing a drip irrigation system would be a better option. A timer could be used to water automatically, at just the right time of day. Or would a self-watering planter be a good fit for your garden? When you water the reservoir of a sub-irrigated system, the water is pumped straight down to the bottom. No waste!

Can You Water Plants in the Sun?

LEAF DAMAGE: I've read that watering plants at mid-day will "burn" the leaves of plants. Apparently, that's a big reason we should wait until late evening. I've personally never observed such damage. Furthermore, researchers have found this to be a common garden myth in most instances. This is only plausible on plants that have hairy leaves. And just because it's "plausible," that doesn't mean it should be a major concern.

If it's hot, windy and sunny your plants can dry out extremely quickly. This is especially true for young plants and ones grown in pots. It might be sunny, but that might be the exact moment the plants need watered. So do it! Don't let them dry out and wilt. This could result in damage to the plant tissues. It will halt growth and in the end, it will reduce yield.

If the sun comes out after a rainfall, plants don't get all burned up from incendiary water droplet prisms.

Should you water plants at night?

Regardless of what time you water them, it's a good idea to avoid getting your plants' leaves wet when watering. Minimizing leaf spray might reduce salt exposure and cold water shock. But in particular keeping leaves dry can reduce fungal and bacterial disease. Could this be one advantage for watering in the mid-day? The warmth of the day will help to evaporate any water that unavoidably splashes onto your plants. Isn't that better than having the water resting on the leaves all night long, encouraging pathogens? That might be a drawback of watering at night. Certainly, if you're going to top irrigate, try to avoid splashing plant leaves.

What's the Best Time to Water Outdoor Plants?

The bottom line: Preventing water stress is crucial. If I see that plants need watered, I'm going to do it immediately. The "best time" to water has nothing to do with the time of day. It's all about the moisture level of your soil. If the ground is soaking wet, then you get the day off. But if it's dry, then it's time to irrigate. Do it as soon as your schedule permits. By having the flexibility of watering when it's convenient, your plants will actually get that water when they need it!

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