An avid gardener has shared the common mistake people make when watering their plants – and it all comes down to timings.
Simon Akeroyd, who is known on social media as @simonkeroydgardener, has taken to TikTok to share the best time of day to water your plants this summer.
To start, the gardener urges people to avoid watering their plants in the middle of the day because you could be wasting your time entirely.
He said: “Because the water evaporates before plants have time to take it down to their roots.” But while evening watering allows your plants to take up the water slowly at night, it attracts slugs that can be harmful to your crops.
Instead, the garden expert said: “So, the best time to water plants is early in the morning as the plants absorb the water best and slugs tend to avoid hot, dry weather and direct sun.
“When watering, try to just water around the roots and avoid getting water on leaves as this can cause disease.”
Commenting on his video, one user said: “Really appreciate this tip! I’m just recovering my plants from a slug attack. Now I know where I went wrong.”
Another user added: “Right, I am doing that. thank you! could you give us some more help regarding slugs? This year’s spring was so warm thanks to climate change that the slugs in Iceland are bigger and more than ever before.”
A third user said: “I am so new to this and really struggling but am enjoying it. I really want to make it an enjoyable hobby. Should you water young plants/ fruit/veg twice a day or is that to much.”
One more person added: “Nice one, Simon. I’m up at 5am in this weather, plants are getting watered around 6am.”
Seconding this, a statement from RHS reads: “Water in the mornings, if you can, as this is when the sun comes up and plants will start to use water.
“The foliage and soil surface is also likely to stay drier for longer than evening watering, discouraging slugs, snails and mildew diseases.
“Plants start to transpire in sunlight, drawing water from the soil, through their roots, up their stems and out through tiny pores on their leaves called stomata.
“Evening watering is also fine, as the cooler conditions mean less water is lost to evaporation.
Watering in the heat of the day is not a good idea as much water is lost through evaporation from the surface of the soil and the plants will use water more efficiently if watered in the cooler parts of the day.”