How Daylight Savings Time Impacts Gardening

Fellow Gardeners, some of you more experienced greenthumbs may be familiar with Daylight Savings Time (DST)—a twice-a-year time-shifting ritual that messes up sleep schedules  and sometimes gardening plans. For some, it’s just a minor inconvenience and a time reset. Let’s delve into how it affects our gardening routines and how you can make the most of it.

The Basics of DST

First, let’s clarify the basics. We typically set our clocks forward by one hour in spring, which means more daylight in the evenings. The opposite happens in fall, as we turn the clocks back an hour, resulting in shorter evenings with longer mornings. This seemingly simple time shift can impact everything from garden planting to harvesting.

More Daylight for More Growth

An obvious benefit of DST is the extended daylight hours. Plants thrive on sunlight, and more light means more time for optimal growth. Your vibrant veggies and fruits will benefit especially from the additional light, resulting in a more bountiful harvest.

Adjusting Your Schedule

You should adjust your gardening calendar accordingly as the clocks change. For example, you can start your day in the garden sooner as the sun rises earlier after the spring shift. This is ideal for early risers who prefer an early start on planting or tending to the garden before the heat of the day kicks in.

As days grow shorter once the winter season approaches, you have to be mindful of reduced daylight hours when planning gardening tasks. Weeding and other outdoor chores that were easily done in the evenings during spring and summer may now have to be squeezed into daylight hours.

Planting and Watering 

One of the perks of DST if you’re looking to plant some cool-season crops like lettuce, is that the extra daylight will allow just the right conditions for germination. You can also potentially start seeds earlier in the day to maximize growth time. 

For the longer evenings, you might consider squeezing in some of your gardening tasks for after work. This allows you to take your time and ensure your plants get the hydration and care they need, without the stress of rushing in the morning. Bear in mind that watering in the evening may result in fungal diseases if you let foliage stay wet overnight. So, water directly onto soil instead of leaves!

The Fall Back Effect

You might notice a bit of a gardening slowdown once DST ends in the fall. This means shorter days and less sunlight, which can impact the growth of your late-season crops such as tomatoes or peppers, which will not be ripening as quickly.

This fall back phenomenon can also be a signal that the first frost is imminent. As temperatures drop in the evenings, you may consider covering up your plants or bringing potted ones indoors to protect them from cold spells during the extra hour of darkness. 

Timing is Essential 

Strategically timing your gardening around DST can help with management and care of your plants in surprising ways. Imagine you’re out in the garden and tending to your blooms. Given the extra hour of daylight, you will have more time to root out pests and protect your plants.  Meanwhile, the longer evenings in the spring mean you can stay outside longer for watering or garden maintenance. 

Embracing Change

While Daylight Savings Time might seem like a simple time adjustment, it can have a notable impact on your gardening. Embrace this change by adjusting your schedule strategically and try to make the most of the extended time. 

Whether it’s planting or watering, bearing in mind the effects of DST will ultimately reward you with healthier plants and gardens. As fall and spring approaches, and you set your clocks forward, take a moment to appreciate this extra hour for gardening.