The monsoon rains are here, so it’s time to embrace the lush greenery and make the most magical weather. You’ve waited all summer for the showers that bring your garden back to life.
Whether you have a sprawling estate or a charming little patch of green, some simple landscaping tips can help you create an oasis. Get ready to channel your inner landscape architect and turn your outdoor space into a tropical paradise. With the right plants and features, your garden will become a peaceful place to enjoy the sounds and scents of the monsoon. The vibrant blooms and verdant vistas will make all your hard work pay off.
Prepare Your Garden For Monsoon Rains
- Improve Your Soil Drainage
Monsoon rains can drown plants in heavy, waterlogged soil. Add compost or mulch to help the soil absorb and drain water more efficiently. You can also build raised garden beds to give roots more breathing room.
- Provide Support For Plants
Sturdy stakes, trellises and cages will keep tall or vining plants like tomatoes, beans and peppers from toppling over in high winds and heavy rain.
- Choose Monsoon-Friendly Plants
Opt for sturdy, water-loving varieties that can withstand rainfall and humidity, such as okra, eggplant, turmeric, ginger, lemongrass and tropical fruits like banana, papaya and guava.
- Don’t Forget To Finalize And Compost Before The Rain Starts
This will give plants a boost of nutrients to carry them through the wet season. But avoid fertilizing once the monsoon begins, since heavy rains can wash the nutrients away.
- Improve Air Circulation
Prune plants to open up their structure and allow for better airflow. This will help the foliage dry faster and prevent disease.
With the right preparation and plant selection, your garden can shine through the monsoon season.
Choosing Plants for Kerala’s Wet Season
During the monsoon season in Kerala, the heavy rains can wreak havoc on your garden. But with some strategic plant choices, you can create a lush, tropical oasis.
Shrubs and Groundcovers
For shrubs and groundcovers, choose plants that thrive in wet conditions, such as hibiscus, gardenia, and Ixora. Their bright flowers will add colour when everything else is green. Vinca, commonly called periwinkle, also does well and spreads to form an attractive ground cover.
Trees
For trees, consider coconut palms, mango trees, and jackfruit. Their large leaves provide shade, and the fruits are a bonus. Teak and rosewood are also great options, as these woods are resistant to rot. Just be sure to plant them in spots with good drainage.
Foliage
Add tropical foliage plants like ferns, caladiums, and philodendrons. Their dramatic leaves fill in bare spots and create a lush. Jungle feel. Anthurium, with its colorful flowers, and Chinese evergreen also works great.
Vegetables and Herbs
Many vegetables and herbs thrive in the rainy season. Try okra, eggplant, peppers, curry leaf, lemongrass or galangal. Mint, basil and oregano also do very well. Plant them in containers or raised beds for the best results.
With the right plant choices, your garden can be bursting with life even during the monsoon. Take advantage of this season to grow tropical plants that are usually not suited for other areas.
Landscaping Tips to Prevent Waterlogging
The monsoon season brings plenty of rain to Kerala, which can lead to flooding and waterlogging if you’re not prepared. Some landscaping Tips to prevent excess water buildup around your home
Improve Drainage
Make sure your yard has proper drainage so water flows away from the foundation of your house. Install drainage pipes, gravel, or river rock in low-lying areas where water collects. You can also create slight slopes in the yard so water naturally runs off. Improve the absorption of water into the soil by aerating your lawn and adding compost or peat moss.
Choose Water-Resistant Plants
Select plants, shrubs and trees that can withstand very wet conditions and occasional flooding. Some good options include crotons, hibiscus, bouganvillea, palms, coconut trees and bamboo. Their dense root system helps absorb and filter excess water. Avoid plants that don’t handle overwatering well, such as succulents.
Mulch Around Plants
Add a layer of mulch around the plants. Trees and flower beds. Much helps the soil retain moisture, preventing the roots from sitting in water. It also enriches the soil as it decomposes. Common mulches for monsoon climates include coconut husks, shredded leaves and straw. Replenish the mulch each season or as needed.
Install Rain Barrels
Collect and store rainwater from your roof gutters in rain barrels. Then, use the water to irrigate your garden and lawn when the rain stops. This helps cut down on flooding and provides a free source of water for your plants during drier times. Just be sure to secure the barrels on a level surface and keep them covered to prevent mosquitoes.
Following these useful tips will help you get the most from monsoon rains while protecting your home and garden. With the right planning and preparation, you can keep your yard lush and green, even during the heaviest downpours. The rainy season in Kerala will be something to celebrate rather than dread!
Creative Solutions for Drainage Problems
The heavy rains of the monsoon can wreak havoc on Kerala gardens, flooding walkways and damaging plants. Creative solutions are needed to redirect excess water and keep your garden lush during the wet season.
Drains and Ditches
Installing drains and ditches in strategic areas of your garden will help move water away from sensitive plants and walkways. Dig shallow trenches along the edges of paths or in areas where water collects, with one end lower than the other. This gives the water a place to flow out of the garden. For low-lying areas, a French drain—a trench filled with gravel—can collect and redirect water.
Rain Gardens
A rain garden is a shallow, planted depression to capture and soak in rainwater runoff. The water-loving plants in the garden help filter the water before it falls to the ground. To make a rain garden, dig a shallow depression, fill it with a mixture of sand, compost and native soil, and plant it with water-tolerant flowers, shrubs and grasses. The rain garden should be located at least 10 feet away from the house foundation.
Permeable Paving
Using preamble paving materials, like gravel, sand, or interlocking concrete pavers with spaces for water to pass through, allows rain to soak into the ground below walkways. This reduces runoff and prevents paths from becoming muddy. For driveways or high-traffic areas, permeable concrete, porous asphalt, and permeable interlocking concrete pavers can support vehicles while still allowing water to filter down.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels collect runoff from rooftops, storing it for watering plants. They help reduce flooding and lower your water bill. Place rain barrels on blocks or a platform below a downspout with an overflow outlet to direct excess water away from the house. Use a spigot at the bottom of the barrel to fill watering cans. Link multiple barrels together to store more water. Cover rain barrels with mesh to prevent mosquitoes and debris from entering.
By employing one or more of these solutions, you can minimize the damage from monsoon rains and create a garden oasis. Your plants will thrive with ample moisture, and you’ll worry less about flooding and erosion. With some creative adaptations, the rain can be a magical time in your Kerala garden.
Hiring the Best Landscaing Company in Kerala for Monsoon Projects
When undertaking major landscaping in Kerala during the rainy season, hiring an experienced company is key. Look for a reputable firm that specializes in monsoon landscaping and has a proven track record of success.
Check Credentials And Experience
Make sure the landscape architects in Kerala you consider have proper licensing and insurance, as well as experience, specifically with monsoon and tropical landscaping. Ask to see photos of their previous work and check online reviews from past clients. An established company that has been in business for several years will have refined their techniques for efficient monsoon landscaping.
Meet With Designers
Have initial consultations with two or three top candidates. Discuss your needs and priorities, and get estimates for the full project scope. Look for designers who listen to your concerns, ask good questions about how you intend to use the space, and provide practical yet visually appealing solutions for monsoon landscaping. Their design should incorporate plants and materials suited to heavy rains.
Review Planning And Logistics
A competent and best landscaping company in Kerala has a well-developed plan for completing outdoor work during the rainy season. They should schedule adequate time in case of weather delays and have contingency plans in place. Make sure they will properly prepare and protect any slopes, install drains or retaining walls as needed, and select plants that can withstand being partially submerged at times. Monsoon landscaping requires extra attention to detail.
Check on Maintenance
Once installation is complete, the landscaping company should provide clear guidance for maintaining your new outdoor space during and after the monsoon season. This includes instructions for watering. Fertilizing and pruning new plants, as well as general upkeep for any hardscape features like walkways or patios. With the right care and maintenance, your monsoon landscaping can provide you with enjoyment for years to come.
Conclusion
So, with the monsoon season upon us, now is the time to get out in your garden and make the most of these rains. Try planting some colourful blooms that will thrive in the damp weather. Add a water feature, like a small pond or fountain, to enhance the ambience. And don’t forget to harvest rainwater to use for irrigation in the drier months.
Get out and get your hands dirty; your garden will thank you for it! The monsoon is a magical time in Kerala, so make this season one to remember in your backyard
