The monsoon showers are the one thing we look forward to after the summer heat. It is during this season that plants blossom the most but also show signs of sickness as a result of pest spread. During the monsoon season, the humidity, winds, and water provide an ideal habitat for pests and bugs to infest plants. Making preparations ahead of time can not only leave your garden protected but also allow it to thrive. It is, therefore, that we, the dedicated teams of Unlimited Greens, have come up with the top 10 tips to take the best care of your plants during the monsoon.
1) Allow for adequate drainage: Flood and waterlogging is one of the common issues during the rainy season. Needless to mention, this problem limits the growth of plants. So whenever the issue becomes extreme, roots start rotting as they can’t breathe and hence, lead to the death of plants. As a result, before the monsoon arrives, make sure all your plants have well-designed drainage systems. Grow bags, cocopeat, or other potting mixtures that do not hold much water are some of the measures you may take to enable adequate drainage.
2) Provide support to plants: Plants typically shatter, split, or fall off throughout the high monsoon winds. Therefore, you must provide sufficient support for them so that they can endure the strong and heavy monsoon winds.
3) Trimming and replanting: Plant growth is accelerated by the first monsoon rainfall. So before the first showers hit, prune, trim, and remove dead stems and branches to help the plant develop in the proper direction. Mulching before the season can aid in the retention of micronutrients in the soil.
4) Vermicomposting: Earthworms are considered to be farmers’ best friends, and vermicomposting is no exception. They can be easily used to increase soil fertility, improve its texture, and oxygenation during the monsoon.
5) Weeding has to be done at the Right Time: Weeds, like your vegetables and blooming plants, grow during the monsoon season. Filtering your plants by weeding before the monsoon prevents weeds from collecting essential nutrients from the soil. It’s also easier to get rid of weeds while they’re young. During the monsoon season, however, weeding must be done on a regular basis to keep your plants safe.
6) Choose the ideal plants: Not every plant grows well in the monsoons. Some plants need hot temperatures, while others need chilly weather, while still others need damp soil. Prepare your plant calendar ahead of time for every season and learn how to grow like a master.
7) Cover the plants: As monsoon is the season of thunderstorms or hailstorms, at times, plants might be damaged beyond repair. To avoid this, make sure your plants are well covered.
8) Fertilizers: During heavy rainfall, soil erosion is prevalent. Rainwater washes away the top layers of rich soil, especially if you don’t utilize planters or grow bags in your garden. Hence, to keep the soil fertilized, use fertilizers such as NPK, cow dung, neem extracts, compost, and others.
9) Check on the plants on a regular basis: With rain, storms, and winds, monsoon also comes with plenty of work for gardening enthusiasts. Therefore, make it point to keep your plants in check regularly. Damaged roots, weak branches, insects, infections, and water plugging are some of the most common problems that will require your frequent care. It’s okay to get your hands soiled now and again! Whenever you see such problems, relocate and repot your plants, sow some new seeds, and watch them growing and becoming healthy again.
10) Relocate: It is essential to relocate your drought-tolerant succulents, cactus, and other plants to drier areas. Try to shift them from outdoors to indoors where the plants receive enough sunlight. In case if that isn’t possible, place them in places where they are NOT exposed to direct rainwater.
Summer is about to get over and the monsoon is on its way. While most of us await this beautiful season of rainfalls that make us want to stay cozy in bed all day, gardeners need to take some extra care for their green buddies. If you too happen to be one of the latter, well you know the drill now! So stop worrying much and welcome the monsoon with a smile this time.