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Most people water when it's convenient, which, of course, makes sense. Garden chores are often done when we have time, and watering might happen after work, before work, somewhere in the middle of the day, or when the plants look a little sad. For many gardeners, the thought process is that as long as the plants get watered, the timing doesn't matter that much.
For a truly happy and healthy garden, though, the time of watering is important. A plant given the same amount of water at the wrong time does less well, and in some cases, it sets the plant up for problems that have nothing to do with how thirsty it was.
Morning: The Best Time
Watering in the early morning is best because it hydrates the plant before the day heats up. The soil is still cool, the sun is low, and most of the water soaks right down to the roots without losing much. By the time the afternoon heat arrives, the plant already has what it needs to get through the day.
Midday: The Worst Time
Watering in the heat of the day isn't harmful, but a good share of it never reaches the roots of the plant. Any water that is sitting on warm soil and warm leaves evaporates quickly, so the plant ends up with less water in the end than it looks like it's getting. Midday watering is often a waste, because so much of the water evaporates before it can even help hydrate the plant.
Evening: An Okay Time
Evening sounds like an ideal time to water the garden at first. The air is cool and still, evaporation potential is low, and the water sinks into the soil instead of vanishing. The catch is the leaves. Water that lands on foliage in the evening tends to sit there all night, because there's no sun and usually no breeze to dry it off. This can cause fungal diseases like powdery mildew, blight, and leaf spot to grow. They love the combination of a wet surface, still air, and a long stretch of darkness. A plant that gets watered overhead during the evening is at high risk of developing diseases.
If morning watering isn't realistic, evening watering still beats letting a plant dry out. The way to get around the issue and reduce the risk of diseases is to keep the water off the leaves. Aim the hose or the can at the base of the plant and soak the soil directly, so the roots get their drink while the foliage stays dry. A good investment is drip irrigation or soaker hoses, which are great at watering the base of the plants and are worth the setup.
What to do: Water in the early morning when you can. If evening is the only window you have, water at the base, and keep the leaves dry.
Irregular Watering
In addition to timing, it is also important to be consistent with the watering. A plant that gets soaked one day, ignored for a week, then drowned again lives under constant stress even when the total water adds up fine. A plant’s roots grow toward moisture and settle into a rhythm with regular waterings, and when that rhythm keeps breaking, the plant spends its energy reacting to the swings instead of growing. Erratic watering is the main cause of blossom end rot and split fruit in tomatoes, both of which come from water levels lurching up and down rather than from any disease.
What to do: Pick a watering schedule and keep to it. A deep soak a few times a week is better than a light splash every day, because deep watering pushes roots to grow down where the soil holds moisture longer.
The Reality of Watering Whenever You Remember
For most gardeners, the best schedule is whenever they remember, and that can work fine, but the plants may not be at their best. The best way to water is actually not on a schedule, but by checking the plants first to see if they need water.
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Check the soil before watering by pushing a finger down an inch or two.
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If it's dry at that depth, water it.
- If it's still damp, leave it alone.
The exact hour is worth agonizing over, but keep in mind that there are better times, and all of them beat a plant not getting watered at all.