JOIN USOn sunny days and breezy evenings, a home garden is the perfect place to be in. One can simply relax amongst the plants and beautiful flowers or entertain guests during the evenings. Or watch the stars from the comfort of their home. There is something charming about a well-designed garden. However, maintaining it can be a challenge, especially in summer. So, here are a few tips to help you get it right with gardening this summer.
Getting the basics right
To begin with, there is the problem of water during the season and it's crucial to manage that. Ensure you prepare a proper setup for summer. Watering arrangements must be sufficient, efficient and easy to follow. Drip irrigation is one of the most efficient methods of watering. It not only saves water but also makes it so much easier to administer the required quantity. Drip setup can be manual- or sensor-controlled. Sensor system follows complete automation via a water reserve and supplies a predetermined volume of water at a fixed time for a duration. The design of irrigation layout and supporting fittings are figured accordingly.
Manual systems can be as ingenious as one can create and run sustainably. It uses the same fittings as the automated system, connected to a tap, while supply is operated manually. One can use hose pipes, punctured at strategic places so that water drops fall close to the base of the stem. Besides ensuring required water supply, conservation of water is essential too.
It helps if the potting mix is rich in organic matter and cocopeat, subject to the type of plant. The moisture in the root zone is most beneficial, therefore all watering should be deep, not superficial. Mulching on the soil surface helps moisture from evaporating. The mulch can be about three inches deep.
Weeding is a much-needed exercise because weeds suck up the moisture meant for the plant. Grass mowing must be set at a higher level to prevent unnecessary exposure and drying. Cuttings are best left on the ground as those work like an organic mulch. It's better to water the plants early morning or late evening so that maximum uptake of water can happen before the heat evaporates soil moisture.
What to choose
Once the essentials are in place, it's time to come to the fun part and that is what are the plants that work well for summer evenings. White glows in dark, so go with white flowers and variegated leaves. And it so happens that nature compensates for the colour with fragrance. So in summers, it's a win-win. White flowered plumeria is a beautiful small tree that will look great as an ornamental plant.
Sweet autumn clematis is a climber that grows fast and wide. The unique thing about this one is, it's one of the few white flowers that have fragrance emanating during the day. That apart, jasmine, honeysuckle and tuberose make for a good selection for the home garden because of their fragrance.
To increase the bloom, make sure the trimming and pruning have been done around six weeks before the flowering season. Brugmansia is another large fragrant pendant flower that grows on a shrubby small tree. It can also be grown in large pots.
Night-blooming jasmine is another climber which bears a strong fragrance. Vinca is a variety of white flower which blooms through the year but without fragrance. This is a sturdy and low-maintenance plant. Orange jasmine has small, but fragrant flowers. It works as a hedge or as a bedding of medium height. This apart, you can also invest in a parijatha tree that can be maintained as a small tree. It lays down a carpet of orange-stemmed, cream-coloured flowers each morning. Timely pruning can increase flowering exponentially. Gardenia and variegated lily also make for interesting additions to the garden. Brunfelsia is an aromatic treasure. It's a loose shrub that can grow taller if not pruned, and it blooms for a good part of the year. Besides white roses, tabernaemontona, which has a canopy-like spread, will add to the charm of your garden.
All these plants are perennials, so once located and established right, they are a fantastic investment for any garden. So, happy planting!