Does the time of day matter

[JillThePlantKiller]

Are there gardening jobs that are better done at particular times of the day?

I water in the evenings, when the sun has moved off. I tend to plant in the evenings too but I don’t know would that be better done earlier? Does it matter for pruning?

Watering is definitely done better either ends of the day, with a preference for morning as wet plants attract slugs and snails.

The right time of day to water is when the plants need it, not what the clock says. And in hot weather like this, watering is best done in the morning. Some might need watering in the evening again as well.

Forget what anyone says about not getting foliage wet - it is nonsense. Plants have evolved over millions of years to cope with sunshine on wet leaves.

It's not nonsense. Some plants don't cope well with water on their leaves. but it is less of an issue that people used to think. Watering in the heat of the day can also shock plants because you make them go from hot to cold quickly, which isn't ideal.

It's best to plant when the soil and the plant are cool and hydrated, which is usually morning rather than evening. The heat of the day obviously isn't good, but in the evening you need to be more careful that your plant hasn't been drying out all day.

Pruning is more about seasons (eg. cherries in summer; apples in winter) than about time of day.