Overview

• Watering between 3 and 4 a.m. takes advantage of cooler soil temperatures to ensure water reaches plant roots with minimal evaporation.
• Irrigating during midday can waste up to half of applied water through evaporation and may burn leaves under intense sunlight.
• Evening watering risks attracting snails and promoting fungal diseases by leaving foliage damp overnight, so water should target the soil, not the leaves.
• Loosening soil around plants before watering and applying a layer of mulch over bare ground helps retain moisture and slows surface evaporation.
• Installing drip irrigation and selecting drought-resistant species reduce overall water use and support plant health during prolonged dry periods.