Keep your plants healthy and refreshed during the summer heat by knowing when is the best time to water11:00, 29 Jun 2026The UK heatwave may have ended, but the warm temperatures look as though they’re here to stay for a while. Heat and sunshine can be beneficial to plants, but an excessive amount can lead to damaged, dry or even dead plants.‌To ensure that your garden plants and flowers are properly hydrated throughout the summer heat, gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish recently shared his secret for keeping them alive. It all comes down to the time of day you water your plants.‌Keeping your plants watered thoroughly is key to keeping them alive. So to help you protect your precious plants and blooms from the onslaught of hot weather, Ish advised watering your plants at two particular times during the day to make sure they stay properly hydrated.‌In a recent video, he said: “Now, what I always tell people is water them in the mornings or evening, it’s completely up to you.”It’s important to water plants at specific times of the day to prevent the water from evaporating. He advised watering early in the morning between 7am and 9am or in the evening from 9pm onwards.‌This is usually when the ground and the air are cooler, meaning that there’ll be less chance of the water evaporating, and leaving your lawn nice and hydrated. The same idea applies when watering garden lawns.You should always make sure your plants are well watered, according to Ish. It may be counterintuitive to water plants in the peak heat of the day, but Ish said that if any of your plants are looking worse for wear, then don’t be afraid to give them a hydration boost.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌He said: “But if you do see that one of your plants is struggling throughout the day, then you can water it.“It’s a common myth that it’s going to burn them, it’s not a giant magnifying glass with the water droplets, so don’t worry. And if you want to give it a really good drink, apply it directly to the soil anyway, and as a result, they’ll absolutely thrive.”If it’s possible, Ish recommended moving potted plants into the shade. It will help the plant’s soil retain its moisture.‌You can also place light coloured gravel over the top of the soil, which helps reflect the sun’s light, preventing the soil from getting too hot and evaporating. Ish also suggested setting up a shade screen in the garden to keep plants covered.You can either find one at a DIY store, garden centre or online, or use a fitted white sheet for a budget-friendly alternative to provide ample amount of shade for the plants. The screen will reflect the light from the sun and keep the underneath cool.He said: “That way then, I can keep them well-watered in one space; group them close together so if it does get any sunshine, it’s not getting directly to the soil which isn’t drying out and, as a result, will survive throughout the heatwave.Article continues below“I can pop them back, and we’re all good. And for those plants that are fixed into the ground, a good morning water, and they’ll be fine.”