Gardeners are aware that watering plants is essential for helping them grow, but that doesn't mean you can't make mistakes while doing this.
It's true that all plants do need water at some point, but the amount that they need varies from species to species.
Over or under-watering your greenery can lead to problems with their growth and can even end up killing them in some cases.
So now that the warmer weather is kicking in and people are spending more time caring for their gardens, one expert has lifted the lid on some watering mistakes you might be making.
Gardening specialist Muhammed Haq from Norfolk Garden Buildings has shared five of the most common errors, as reported by the Express.
Too much water pressure
Water pressure can have a real impact on the structure of plants.
The expert urged gardeners to “keep the pressure low” so as not to damage any leaves, disturb the soil around the roots, or even dislodge the plant at the base.
Try to use an adjustable nozzle and check the pressure away from the plants before starting to water them.
Not using mulch
When planting in garden beds or even in containers, mulching is a step gardeners should always consider.
It has plenty of benefits, such as improved soil health and weed suppression, plus it helps to retain moisture in the soil.
Muhammed explained: “Mulch serves as a barrier that keeps moisture inside the soil, prevents additional evaporation, and protects plants from mechanical damage. It also prevents you from using excessive or unnecessary water, keeping your bills low and your use within local water use restrictions.”
Watering at the wrong time of day
The expert says that choosing the wrong time of day to water your plants is one of the "worst" errors you can make.
He said: “It's important to establish a consistent watering routine for your plants to get used to. The best times of day to water your plants are in the early morning at sunrise, in the late afternoon or early evening, and then finally in the late evening before you go to sleep.
“Be careful - watering them when the sun's at its hottest is detrimental as it will probably cause the water to evaporate before they are able to properly absorb it."
Fungal diseases can also crop up if you get the leaves wet overnight, so it's best to avoid this.
Watering only the foliage
The roots of the plant need water the most, and so this area should never be avoided.
Muhammed said: “If the water is only on the foliage, it will likely evaporate before it gets to the roots where it is absorbed.”
Plus, as mentioned earlier, getting the foliage excessively wet can also lead to fungal diseases, as such pathogens thrive in moist and humid conditions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that, by watering plants from above, gardeners “run the risk of disturbing the soil”, which can carry fungus and bacteria around the roots of the plant.
Under or over watering
One final simple error that gardeners make is either under-watering or over-watering.
Too much water can mean the plant cells split in half, in what is called "lysis".
The expert explained that “this can be avoided” by ensuring that there are drainage holes in the plant pots, by not watering the plants the day before heavy rainfall, and by sticking to a watering schedule.
Under-watering is also “detrimental to good plant growth” so gardeners should make sure that the soil is relatively moist at all times by pressing their finger an inch or two into the soil.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
