7 Tips for Watering a Garden in Hot Weather (+ Common Myths)

How hot is too hot for your plants? And can you accidentally burn your plants by watering in the middle of the day?

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When summer rolls around, it's important to use good irrigation techniques that also conserve water.

Here are 7 science-backed tips for keeping your plants healthy and hydrated in a heatwave, plus common watering myths that do your garden more harm than good.

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Time your watering for the morning or late afternoon.

01. The best time to water your garden in summer is from 6 am to 10 am—before the heat of the day sets in, giving your plants plenty of time to drink up and any moisture on the leaves to dry off before nightfall. Learn more

Water well and water deeply.

02. A good rule of thumb is to water when the first 2 inches of potting soil feels dry. The smaller or more porous your container, the more you’ll have to water it. Learn more

Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses.

03. If you’re still hand-watering everything, it’s worth it to install a drip irrigation system to take some of the workload off in high season. Learn more

Promote high humidity.

04. Container plants should be grouped together to increase humidity, and they especially benefit from being placed under the canopy of larger plants or trees. Learn more

Shield heat-sensitive plants from excessive sun.

05. If your plants are in containers, move them to an area of the yard that’s partially shaded in the afternoon. Learn more