How To Care For Your Garden During Monsoon

The monsoon clouds have started to appear over the Malaysia sky and the heat has started to fade away. You know the rainy season is just around the corner. This could mean fewer outdoor activities but it is great to do something beautiful in your garden.

The weather conditions with the rainwater and cool breeze are perfect for growing your vegetable garden. In spite of this, you need to know about what type of safety precautions you should keep maintaining your garden during the rainy season.

Vegetable Gardening Tips And Hacks For Beginners

Don’t let the rainy season ruin your garden. Read the following vegetable gardening tips and hacks for the wet season.

1. Shade your Plants

It is important to shade your plants during the wet season, otherwise, there will be a higher risk of fertile soil erosion and this is not good for your plants.

How to prevent soil erosion?

The best way to prevent soil erosion is by covering your vegetables with perforated sheets. These perforated sheets are specially designed for gardening because they still allow rainwater to water the vegetables without making the soil too soft.

2. Terrace Garden

Monsoon is without a doubt the best time of the year to grow a terrace garden.

What is a terrace garden?

A terrace garden is a method of gardening where you can grow vegetables and plants on a terrace or a raised platform. The key is that water can flow down.

A terrace garden is perfect for apartments as they have reduced space available for gardening.

If you don’t have a terrace you can build a raised platform before the rainy season and wait for the rain to set it firmly. Keep in mind that you need to make sure that the terrace or platform is strong enough to withstand the weight of soil and plants.

3. Check Your Garden

You should always check your garden, especially after a storm or heavy wind has passed over your vegetable garden. It is important to check if there is any broken twig, or if dust and garbage were carried out by the wind.

Don’t forget to also check if any pest or disease occurs on the vegetable or any other problem.

Another important aspect to check is the drainage system of your containers. You must see that the water is flowing out of the drainage hole and if the hole is open.

It is important to do this because in the rainy season stagnant water can rot the roots of the vegetables easily and there could be fungus attacks. Make sure the rainwater during the monsoon is drained out completely as much as possible.

For this reason, it is better not to use trays under your pots.

4. Mosquitos

Mosquitos increase during monsoons as they love stagnant water to lay their eggs and multiply. But mosquitoes are equally dangerous for your vegetable garden and people. They carry life-threatening diseases like malaria, dengue, and zika.

Try to get rid of stagnant water and add BTI mosquito treatments to open water. It is important to clear out leaves decaying branches, and other debris. Try your best to keep your garden clean.

One vegetable garden tip important to consider is to start pruning your vegetables before the monsoon as this will help control the spread of bugs and mosquitos.

5. Soil

It is a good idea to add organic matter to your soil this will help the excess moisture drain away. Good soil is key for plants under stress. You can add organic matter like:

• manures
• leaf mold
• grass clippings
• compost and
• other mulches

When you add gypsum to heavily compacted clay soils you will help them break up.

6. Safety First

Finally, always put safety first. Wear the right clothing and gear especially if you are applying chemicals or treatments in the soil.

Be extremely careful when you are cleaning the lawn or your vegetable garden during monsoon as it can be dangerous because the ground is wet or slippery. Try to use gardening boots or anti-skid shoes.

Other gardening tips and hacks are to:

• Check out that your garden equipment is working properly. Do not use machines that require an electrical power supply during storms.
• Never leave your house without insect repellant.
• Always wash your hands and take a shower immediately after working on your vegetable garden, as you can be carrying germs and bacteria inside your home.