How these simple techniques can help your garden survive heat and drought
What’s the best way to water plants in summer – should your plants be watered when it’s hottest or when it’s cooler in the evening? Stuart Thompson, senior lecturer in Plant Biochemistry at the University of Westminster, has these words of wisdom…
“Plants can go through several times their own weight in water on a sunny day. Therefore, to keep them happy, you will need to water them a lot. Plants planted in the soil in the garden will benefit most if they are well watered in the morning or evening, when the water will be able to permeate down into the soil, allowing the plants’ deep roots to absorb it when it is needed.
“Avoid watering in full sun if you can because the water will evaporate before it can properly wet the soil and reach the roots.
Scorching leaves
“The common belief that water drops can act like magnifying glasses and scorch leaves if they are wet seems to be incorrect. The only exception is leaves with hairs that hold drops away for rays to be focused on the surface. However, potted plants won’t have a large reservoir of water and may use it all very quickly.
“It would be wise to move them into the shade if you can. Otherwise, you may have to water them several times during the day.
What’s the best way to water plants – temperature
“Some people believe that warm water is better for plants. It may have benefits in cooler weather. Unless the water coming out of your taps is very cold, water from the cold water tap will be fine.
“Plants have systems to reduce their water loss, which are very effective in species from arid environments where light is intense, such as succulents and yuccas. These will need less care. Pay more attention to shade plants and those from cooler or damper areas. They will be less well adapted to hot weather.
“Breeding to improve fruit quality in some horticultural crops, such as tomatoes and peppers, has made their water-preserving mechanisms work less well. These may also dry out quickly.”
For more information, visit www.westminster.ac.uk.
