The Best Time of Day to Water Plants

Water plants early in the morning before the hot sun causes evaporation.

During summer, gardeners should water plants in the early morning. The time of day for watering plants does not matter as much during other seasons, but early morning still works well.

Effects

Outside temperatures vary depending on the time of day, which affects how efficiently gardeners can water plants. The University of Illinois explains that early morning watering is the optimal time to water because water does not evaporate as quickly as in the hot midday sun.

Considerations

Gardeners could also water during the evening to avoid too much evaporation. Evening waterings, however, sometimes mean that plants sit in water all night long, increasing the risk of fungal problems and diseases. The University of Illinois Extension suggests that gardeners water in the very late afternoon only when they miss a morning watering.

Benefits

Watering at the most efficient time of day saves money on water bills and also helps the environment by reducing excess water use. In extremely dry areas with limited amounts of water, such as Arizona, very early watering also puts less stress on the city's water system during peak usage hours in the evening.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Watering Correctly Saves Time, Money and Plants
• University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Watering Turf