Keep your garden green through the dry season
Harmattan winds and long dry months are tough on lawns and flowers. Seven simple habits to keep your compound looking fresh until the rains return.
Lush greens make any compound feel welcoming, but the dry season and harmattan winds can turn a lawn brown in weeks. These habits help your garden survive until the rains come back.
1. Water early or late
Water before 8am or after 5pm. In the midday heat, much of the water evaporates before it reaches the roots.
2. Water deeply, less often
A long soak two or three times a week beats a light sprinkle every day. Deep watering grows deep roots, and deep roots survive dry spells.
3. Mulch your flower beds
A layer of dry leaves, grass cuttings or wood chips around plants keeps the soil cool and holds moisture for longer.
4. Mow a little higher
Longer grass shades its own roots. Raise your mower height during the dry season and avoid cutting too short.
5. Choose hardy plants
Bougainvillea, ixora, crotons and lemongrass handle heat well and need less water than delicate flowers.
6. Reuse water where you can
Water from rinsing vegetables, or water collected from your AC drain, is great for flower beds.
7. Plan before the rains
The end of the dry season is the perfect time to plan new beds, paving or a fresh lawn, ready for planting when the first rains arrive.
Short on time? A HouseClap gardener can take care of weekly mowing, trimming and watering. Book a gardener.
