Protect Your Plants from Delhi's Scorching Summer

Whether its humans, animals or plants, summers in India's northern parts, especially the plains, are unforgiving. For those with plants on terraces, balconies or lawns, the months of May and June are filled with anxiety and helplessness

Here are a few tips to help you protect your plants from scorching heat and winds in the summer months:

• If you have potted plants and space is not a limitation, shift your plants to north or east facing walls. If shifting the plants is not practical, try covering your plants with a 75% green shade net. While putting the shade net, ensure a gap at least 20-24 inches between the tallest plant and the fabric. Also, the shade net should be able to withstand high winds lest it becomes the cause for damage
  

• Water your plants either early mornings, ideally before 8 am or in the evenings, after 5 pm. Water your plants generously in order to encourage roots to grow deeper and wider in search of moisture. Avoid over-watering though!

• Place your plants in a cluster so that the smaller plants enjoy the shade of taller and bushier plants. Placing plants in a cluster also enables a more favorable micro-environment as transpiration allows better humidity levels. Don't forget that plants love company as much as human and animals do!
  

• Mulching is an excellent option to prevent rapid loss of soil moisture. Mulching helps retain soil moisture by blocking soil's exposure to direct sunlight. Aged compost, dried/shredded leaves, wood chips or ready to use mulch from a nearby plant nursery is a great idea to avoid excessive loss of moisture and nutrients in summer