'We asked gardeners when you should water plants - they all said the same thing'

If you're a keen gardener, you'll know that keeping our outdoor space in good condition usually boils down to two things - enough sunlight and enough water. Hydration is key for keeping your plants and lawn in good shape, and thanks to the UK weather, we're normally not short on rain.

However, this summer has been slightly different, with prolonged dry spells resulting in hosepipe bans and drought-like conditions. Your plants might need a bit more TLC than usual in order to thrive. And according to several professional garderners, there is a right time to do this.

Gardening experts at The Spruce have been sharing their best tips for keeping your garden in good shape during the summer. They have highlighted that watering at the wrong time can wreck your plants, as it won't give them the hydration that they need.

Giving your plants a drink during peak sunlight hours, which is generally between 10am and 4pm, should be avoided if possible.

Morris Hankinson, a garden expert and the managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, warned against doing this, saying: "The water is more likely to evaporate before the roots are able to absorb what they need."

The sudden change in temperature could also stress out and potentially damage your plants, so it's not worth it, unless the plant is seriously struggling and you can't water at any other time of the day.

Best time of day to water plants

If you're wondering what's the ideal time of day to give your plants a drink, the experts say that early in the morning is best.

Ali Lijee, a garden expert and the founder of TreeMend, said: "Generally, before 9am is ideal, allowing time for the soil to absorb the water before the sun is strong."

As the weather starts to cool off as we move further into the year, watering mid-morning is also fine, as there will be less chance of the water evaporating too much.

However, amid the current warm weather that many of us are experiencing here in the UK, watering your plants in the evening can also work.

According to Morris, this will give your plants enough time to absorb the water, as well as the nutrients from the soil, after the weather cools off from the daytime.

But if you tend to struggle with slugs in the garden, they are more likely to be active at night, so water your plants in the morning as this will serve as a way to drive them away.