What Time Is Best for Watering Flowers?

Written by Jasey Kelly; Updated December 14, 2018

Plants need water; it's a basic requirement that even the newest of gardeners understand. How much and what time, however, are two aspects that commonly confuse many people. There is a proper time of the day to water, and the amount depends greatly on the plants' preferences. If you don't think you can stick to a watering schedule, buy an inexpensive timer for your soaker hoses to take the guesswork out of it.

Early Morning

Early morning is generally touted as the best time to water plants and for good reason. During the early morning, the plants get a chance to dry off with the morning and afternoon sun, and breezes throughout the day. Being able to dry quickly helps prevent fungal diseases from spreading throughout the plant. It's also the best if, for some reason, you have no other option but overhead watering.

Late Afternoon or Early Evening

Late afternoon is the second-best time of day to water, followed by evening hours, the third choice. While evening water is discouraged, it can still be a better option than watering during the middle of the day. If you must water your plants overhead in the evening, try and do so on a breezy or windy night. The wind helps dry the leaves more quickly to help prevent fungal disease from spreading during the cooler night temperatures.

Daytime Watering

Daytime watering, particularly during the hottest parts of the year, is frowned upon for a few reasons. One reason is that you'll have to water more, because the water begins to evaporate much more quickly than in cooler parts of the day. Daytime watering should be avoided at all costs. That being said, however, If you must water, leave a hose running at a moderate trickle around the base of your plants for 30 or so minutes. If you have thirsty plants that are showing signs of drought stress, water them at the base and give them a long drink.

Time of Year

Depending on the climate you live in, chances are you won't have to water too much during fall and spring, because these seasons often see the most rainfall. While watering during winter may have never crossed your mind, it's actually quite beneficial to several plants where the winters aren't severe or freezing, such as locations within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 where the temperatures may stay well above freezing for periods during the winter. Broadleaf evergreens see a great benefit from watering during nonfreezing temperatures in the winter, because they're particularly prone to winter burn, a stress caused by losing too much water from the leaves during cold weather. In general, the soil should stay moist, wet or dry, depending on the plants' specific needs at all times during the year when the ground isn't frozen.

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Jasey Kelly


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