How to maintain a healthy garden in hot weather

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Ugandans are recovering from a severe heat wave, that affected both humans, but also damaged gardens as well.

Plants were in distress and yet weather forecasts predicted that the heat would go on for more days into the second to third week of March.

Denicah Aine, a commercial gardener devised all possible means to beat the heat, but she is now at her breaking point. Her water tank has dried up.

Same to her tap owing to the water shortage that hit the different parts of the country. Aside from growing ornamental plants in her home, Aine owns a big nursery and roadside plants' shop in Gayaza, Wakiso district.

She needs over 200 litres of water to irrigate her plants in the morning and evening. But amidst the hardships, her sales have dropped because most of her clients buy plants during the rainy season.

The story is not different for Charles Lukooya and Solomon Luyimbaazi both gardening trainers at CIDI school of gardening and landscaping in Nakawuka, Wakiso district.

The duo also own gardens and they say, their plants and those at the school are in distress. They grow ornamental and edible plants including; culinary herbs and spices plus vegetables. Garden maintenance costs have gone up. 

Water your plants right

Regular irrigation is crucial for any garden. It’s even more important during the hot season. However, knowing when and how to water helps to maintain a healthy garden.  Remember, plants too need enough water to thrive.

But before you irrigate, first determine if that plant needs water. Lukooya says, plants communicate through their leaves by drooping or drying up.

You never want your plants to get to this point because they might fail to recover. On how to check if your plant needs water, Aine says; “Dig your finger into the soil. If it is dry at the tip, just know the plant is thirsty and it’s time to irrigate.”

Watering should be done very early in the morning or late in the evening. This works for all plants; potted, those in the ground and in hanging baskets. That morning irrigation keeps the plants rehydrated throughout the day and the evening one takes them through the night heat. 

Others remedies to consider

*Change the pots if you can. Aine prefers clay pots because they retain water compared to plastics.

*Remove dead flowers plus old leaves as it reduces metabolic demands on the plant. 

*Look out for slugs. They thrive in heat and humidity conditions to destroy plants. Salt will kill them but it’s harmful to the soil. Add crushed eggshells to the plant to mitigate them.

*Use compost or decomposed manure.

*Avoid anything that will stress a plant like transplanting or pruning.

*Plant a nursery bed in a shaded spot and if you are starting a garden, consider buying seedlings rather than planting seeds in the ground. For example; peppers and eggplant seedlings do better than seeds in the ground.

*And for the gardener, keep hydrated and always work in the morning before the heat intensifies. Where possible, use your sunscreen and wear a hat as well.

*For the future, consider growing drought-resistant plants, install a drip irrigation system and always use well-mixed soil.