Gardeners are 'ruining' their plants by making one watering mistake

Little you may know, it really does matter when you water your plants. In fact, if you want to keep your garden in tip-top shape, then you always need to focus on when you're watering them to boost their chances of thriving and staying alive.

According to expert advice, gardening addicts often make a common mistake that can lead to potentially killing their plants. You may think you're doing all you can to look after and protect them, but falling into a common trap can cause a lot more issues than you realise, as it can lead to harming your plants.

Paul Smythe, owner of Gower Decking and TrexPro decking installer, recently shared some top tips to help people out. As well as advising what to grow, he shared one rule all gardeners should be following.

He said: "As we move into the height of summer, it's the perfect time to plant marigolds, cornflowers and California poppies. Planting for the new season can be a tiring task - so make sure you have the right tools for the job.

"A good trowel, dibber and kneeler are essential. Summer is great for growth, which is great for your beautiful plants but also great for weeds. Top tip - mulch your border to supress regrowth and maintain soil moisture.

"Water your new plants in the morning or evening to minimise evaporation. And avoid the temptation to overwater!"

You may not realise, but watering your plants at the wrong time can potentially kill them. This is at more risk of happening if you water them during the hottest part of the day, or when the plant is already overwatered.

Watering during midday heat can result in rapid evaporation, as it limits the amount of water reaching the roots. As well as this, if the soil is constantly wet, especially at night, it can create an environment that's more likely to develop fungal diseases and root rot, and both of these things can be fatal.

Generally, the best time to water plants is during the morning, but you must do it before the sun gets too strong. Doing this enables the plants to absorb the water efficiently, and also prevents excessive evaporation during the hottest parts of the day.

You can also complete the task during the evening, but you need to remember there are still risks associated with this. It's best to be mindful of possible issues like fungal diseases or pests as a result of prolonged dampness.

It's not ideal, but it's still better than watering during the hottest part of the day. Cooler temperatures allow less water to be lost to evaporation.

Hedges Direct has also offered some futher advice on the topic. The website reads: "Let's put it like this, imagine you're going jogging - are you more likely to sweat more running on a cool morning or in the heat of the midday sun?

"Plants start using water in sunlight, sucking it up through their roots and sending it to the leaves where it's released through microscopic holes, rather like sweat. And there's your answer.

"The best time of day to water plants is early morning. This allows roots to fully absorb moisture rather than it going to waste through heat or evaporation and lets them process water more efficiently.

"If you're not an early bird, the next best time to do your watering is in the late evening. But, that means you'll run the risk of encouraging diseases such as powdery mildew or luring thirsty slugs and snails out into the twilight; the kiss of death if you're a hosta grower."

When it comes to how often you should water your plants, it generally depends on what you're growing. However, as plants continue to bloom in summer, watering once a week should be fine if the weather is average, but you can up this to two to three times a week if you experience warmer weather than normal.