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When to water your plants during a Spanish heat wave, and why getting it wrong wastes more than just water
Timing makes all the difference between a garden that gets through the hottest days and one that wilts within them
If you have a garden, terrace or even just a collection of pots, the arrival of a heat wave is the moment when your watering habits really matter. With Spain's first heat wave of the summer now under way, getting the timing and technique right could be the difference between plants that cope and plants that do not.The good news is that the advice from gardening experts is straightforward, and most of it comes down to one simple principle: when you water matters as much as how much you use.
Morning is best, midday is worst
The clear consensus among experts is that early morning is the ideal time to water. Before the sun reaches its full intensity, temperatures are lower and water has time to soak into the soil before evaporating. Plants that are well watered in the morning are also better equipped to handle the hottest hours of the day, since their roots have moisture in reserve when they need it most. Any excess water on leaves and stems also has time to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of fungal disease.
If morning watering is not possible, dusk or early evening is the next best option, when evaporation rates drop again and water stays in the soil longer. What experts consistently advise against is watering in the middle of the day, when a significant proportion of the water simply evaporates before ever reaching the roots.
Water deeply, not often
A common mistake during hot weather is watering little and often. Experts actually recommend the opposite: deeper, less frequent watering that encourages roots to grow down into cooler, moister soil, making plants stronger and more resilient over time. A simple way to check whether watering is needed is the finger test: push a finger a few centimetres into the soil, and if it is still damp, the plant can wait.
Potted plants are a special case. Because they have less soil volume and their roots heat up more quickly, they may need watering more often than plants in the ground. Grouping pots together in a partially shaded spot during the hottest part of the day also helps reduce moisture loss.
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A few extra tricks
Applying a layer of mulch, pine bark, dry leaves or compost around your plants acts as a natural insulator, reducing evaporation and protecting roots from the heat. And if you have the means, collecting rainwater in a barrel connected to your gutters is an increasingly practical way to keep the garden going during dry spells.
The key message from experts is simple: during a heat wave, it is not enough to just water more. The goal is to water better, at the right time, in the right way, so that every litre counts.
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Image: Ralphs_Fotos/Pixabay
