`Planting dreams': Here are some tips to rejuvenate your gardens in monsoon

Hyderabad: Rainy Season is the time to try some R and R for your plants- Replant and Rejuvenate them. Gardening enthusiasts and their gardens both bloom in the rainy season. Planting trees at this time reduces much of your work on their maintenance later. All sizes of trees and shrubs can be planted during the rainy season if you give careful attention to watering. The best way to welcome monsoon is by planting new ones and preparing the existing plants for more nourishment. Trees can be transplanted from one place to another too.

Check drainage of Soil

Be careful to check your drainage system in the compound, balcony, or terrace garden. Water should not be allowed to stagnate as it can make plants rot easily. If your leaves are turning yellow, mix a cup of manure or compost into the top layer. Pruning and application of fertilizer are the two important tasks awaiting a gardener soon after summer. Removal of dead growth encourages the plants to throw fresh shoots, while manure helps in expediting the growth with ample nourishment. Application of pesticide is much needed once fresh shoots appear after pruning. External application of pesticides will kill the pests that prefer fresh leaves. For those like me who prefer organic growing, use natural products like neem oil. If you have indoor plants, place them outside in the Monsoon. Your garden, terrace, or even balcony will do. Plants always like a bit of rainwater, but it is the humidity that they simply love.

Taking root

Monsoon is one of the best times to grow new plants in your garden. With the higher humidity, cloud cover, and rainfall, plants have an easier time taking root and getting established after planting. Summer was harsh on both plants and gardeners. But with rain, every gardening enthusiast can relax a little. At last, your plants won't need anxious watering or protection from hot winds and blazing sunlight. Since rainwater is full of essential nutrients, your plants are in for a treat. Now that rains are finally here we have many more options for our garden.

Best time for planting

This is the best time to plant a flowering shrub or tree. Fruit-bearing trees can also be planted during the monsoon season with ease. The ground is soft and moist and easy to turn, and the new plant gets a chance to settle in, without having to face the heat of summer or the onslaught of too much rain and too much water-logging in the soil. Who would not like to enjoy the fruit from their garden, knowing there are no artificial fertilizers, harmful ripening agents, or pesticides used? Passion fruit which is a creeper and mulberry can both be grown in pots, even in cities where homes are short of space. For those who love mint and lemon grass tea, it is time to plant a sprig of mint and get lemon grass with roots from your neighbor or a nursery and plant it. The new shoots soon come up and the roots can be used for cooking Thai dishes.

Cuttings

Cuttings take root easily during the rains. If you need more of your favorite plants, simply separate at the roots to make new plants or take cuttings and grow more.

Potted plants

Larger pots can be used for those with terrace gardens and plants growing on their balconies. One can use bone manure, organic manure/leaf mold, and vermin compost as nutrients for the plants. It is a good time to reorganize and repot plants these monsoons as it is an ideal time to do so. Check the drainage holes at the bottom of flower pots. Drainage is necessary in the monsoons or your plant can die of root rot.