27/06/2026
Whilst many plants are surprisingly resilient and a good watering twice a week is usually enough, some blooms in your garden need extra moisture during a heatwave, such as the one sweeping the UK at the moment… The key is knowing which plants need additional support during the heat.
Patio pots and planters can dry out fast when the weather gets warm – check the soil by inserting a finger a couple of inches into the pitting mix, if it feels dry, it’s time to water! Moving pots to a shaded area can help them retain their water for longer.
Hanging baskets need checking morning and evening as they can dry out in a couple of hours – this may mean they need a top-up twice a day when the temperatures rise.
Likewise, newly planted trees and shrubs, and vegetable gardens can all require additional water during the summertime.
So, when is the best time to water? Early in the morning, when cooler temperatures allow moisture to soak into the soil rather than evaporating quickly. In fact, the best time to water a garden is almost always before the day heats up, giving roots time to absorb moisture and helping plants cope better with soaring temperatures. Evening watering is the next best option during prolonged periods of extreme heat, but avoid watering in the middle of the day when much of that moisture is lost before roots can absorb it.