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Chennai
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Nurturing plants in summer
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In this dry weather, one can still plant and enjoy a garden. Here are some useful tips on water conservation.
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COME SUMMER, garden enthusiasts in the city get worked up. In fact, there is no need to worry. There are a lot of simple, practical ways to keep the garden and the potted plants green and healthy even during the dry season. Mulching the soil is a sure way to conserve water and keep the greenery intact.
Mulching is important for retaining the moisture of the soil throughout the year and it is a `must' during the dry season. Weeds derive moisture from shallow rooting plants and this unwanted vegetation could be removed and used as mulch. Several organic materials available in the garden itself like fallen leaves can be used to make mulch.
In addition, mulch can be made using a lot of biodegradable material. Tear newspaper and cardboard into small pieces and put them into the compost with other materials to rot. It could become valuable mulch for the plants.
Shrubs, vegetable and annual flowering plants can be cultivated around trees to conserve moisture. Animal manures also can be used as mulch and they also provide nutrients. Vermi-compost is important mulch for home gardens. Coarse sand can be spread around shallow rooting plants to retain moisture.
Old sawdust from saw mills can be used as mulch. Mulch can be spread between rows of annuals and vegetables to a depth of 10 cm, and if it is available in plenty it can be used up to a depth of 20 cm.
If water is scarce, preference can be given to flower and vegetable crops instead of lawns and trees. Sprinkler system can be used to water plants. A hand hose or a rose-can can be used to conserve water.
While watering, how much water a plant needs each time and how much comes from the hose can be estimated and used accordingly. Watering should be done in the night or early morning to avoid evaporation.
Shrubs can be watered once or twice a week, and annuals and vegetables at three-day intervals. Regular light irrigation prevents damage of shallow rooting plants and also retains the moisture content in the soil.
In the dry months, fertilisation should be avoided. Though Chennai experiences a severe drought, one can still plant and enjoy a garden making use of the available water judiciously.
K. THANIGAIMANI
(This new column on gardening will appear on Tuesdays.)
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