Morning or evening - which is the best time to water your garden?

You are right, watering in the middle day is like boiling the plants, with water on them in the sun.

LOL same here!! Thanks for the response. :)

Hmmm, you do have a point there, James!!

I agree with you jammyt, especially in summer, it is best to water in the evening, that way the water does not evaporate while the sun is out, giving the plants alot more time to absorb the water.

I also agree and I water my gardens in the evening....Especially on really hot days..On the cooler, cloudy days though sometiems i'll do it in the AM but not often

I have the same idea myself; so it makes perfect sense. Thanks for the response. :)

Thats a lovely response. Thanks a lot. :)

zigzag...it's wonderful that you've never had a plant to wilt after watering it during the hottest part of the day. However, I have been gardening since I can remember and I am following the advice of my Mom and Grandma who farmed for a living. It is also the same advice given by most "experts," so I guess you are lucky you've never had a plant wilt. It depends on the type of plant that you are talking about. Things firmly rooted in the ground, like trees, bushes and permanent plantings would not have the same reaction as a plant in a container or pot; nor would a vegetable garden or a flower bed with freshly planted flowers. And if watering plants late at night invites disease then I wonder why the entire planet isn't covered with diseased plants since it often rains late in the evenings?? Well, I would imagine that because plants don't usually grow naturally where there isn't good drainage. The plants would also be more well rooted that a freshly planted flower bed or garden. That and the fact that I don't know that some plants don't die because of fungus or molds or other disease because of rain....I really haven't had time to check out the entire planet. You are talking about planet earth, right?

I have never had a plant wilt on my from watering it in the scorching afternoon sun!!!! I HAVE had a wilted plant perk up though after watering it in the heat of the day. And if watering plants late at night invites disease then I wonder why the entire planet isn't covered with diseased plants since it often rains late in the evenings??

Hmm that's interesting! I have heard that it is a big no-no to sprinkle water on a plant at high noon. I have brought to life so many little branches stolen from several places by precisely that method. I would plant it and keep sprinkling water over it every two hours, even at noon in the scorching heat, and then one fine day, after a week, I would see buds coming out. And so many people say that sprinkling water on a plant at noon is a sure way to kill it. I have brought plants to life that way.

Wow, you are making my mouth water. I just love watermelon. A slice of watermelon just out of the fridge on a hot day is one of the greatest things in the world. :) Cheers!!

I think that 'rule' to not water your garden in the scorching sun originally had to do with wasting water because of evaporation, but I've heard that it'll burn them up too... I think that 'rumor' probably started when some poor brainless sap didn't know why he was following this rule and just made a reason up. Speaking of gardening... I am eating a watermelon out of my garden right now... in fact it was watered at high noon a couple of times!!! Man it is sooooo sweet and delicious, and I don't even LIKE watermelon!!

What about hot countries? Mold wouldn't be a problem, would it? Cheers!

I think that would depend on how hot it is. We lost one of our rose bushes to mold, even though it was 75 F overnight (in July). Mold can grow when the humidity is between 65 and 99%, but I'm not sure how water on a plant effects the humidity level of that direct area, versus overall humidity of a larger region. According to Charter Oak Environmental FAQ's, mold thrives between 40 & 78 degrees F, but can grow at temperatures up to 100 degrees F. Hope this helps:)

It sure helps. Thanks! :)

Thanks for the epsom salt tip. :) Why epsom salt? I have never heard of this before. Cheers!!

Thanks for the tip, my friend!!!

Thanks a lot for the response. :)

Thanks a lot for the response. :)

Haha ... I believe that is very convenient. Thanks for the response. :)

Yes, I have heard the same too. :) Cheers!

You don't have to apologize. :) I have got the same answer before, but it is always nice to read how someone else puts it. :) Cheers and thanks for the response. :)

Thanks for the response. :)

You sure have a point there. :) Thanks for the response. :)

Thanks for the input. :)

Same here. I live in a hot country, India... that's why I felt watering in the evenings was a better idea. :) Thanks for the response. :)

yup, your post was very very informative. Thanks a lot. :)

That's a good idea. Thanks!

Thanks for the tip, my friend. :)