In need of greener pastures

Experts share advice on how to maintain a luscious green garden during scorching summers

KARACHI:

The grass always seems greener on the other side but turns out almost every house in the city must be dealing with lawn woes this boiling summer. Especially if you have a green thumb, you probably can’t handle the once lush grass in your garden turning brown. The Express Tribune speaks to experts in the field of gardening and agriculture to explore how you can retain the gleam of your garden.

On how grass can be protected against the sweltering heat, horticulturist Tofiq Pasha says, “Lawn grass needs a lot of water. Owing to high temperatures in Karachi, there is excessive evaporation. So, it is imperative to water your lawn well.” He shares the precautionary measures that can be taken to prevent grass from going dull in the summer. “One must manure the lawn at the end of winter. The best thing to do is to use a mixture of fresh soil and manure,” he adds.



Pasha explains, “A layer of about one-and-a-half inches of [the mixture] should be applied on a mowed and well-watered lawn and then left for a few days till the grass has grown through the fresh mixture. It should then be watered well daily.” He notes that the most suitable time to water the lawn is early morning or in the evening. “Water must be sprayed in such a way that it drains down to about four inches into the soil.”

Seema Khuled, a gardening expert from Islamabad, shares, “Extreme weather conditions are always tough on the grass in our lawns.” She further says, “In the summer, the moisture evaporates quickly from the soil, leaving the grass dry. The loss of moisture, combined with direct sunlight, often burns the delicate blades of grass.” What we are left with is unsightly, dry grass instead of fresh, flourishing green one. Khuled emphasises, “The first thing that grass needs is watering and a lot of it.” She’s quick to add, “Always make sure to never water the grass or other plants in full sun.”

On how to save gardens from the dreaded browning, Pasha asserts, “Summer is the season for growth. The more the sun, the better for the lawn, provided you water it adequately.” He adds, “It’s only when there is less sun and shade of trees, walls or buildings that the grass starts to thin out and not grow. Grass will not grow in the shade at all.”

Khuled states that a downside to sustaining grass is that it’s more vulnerable to temperature changes than any other vegetation in the garden. “Keeping the grass short will encourage new and fresh growth and the base of grass won’t turn brown. After each mowing session, water should be generously sprinkled to help with the growth of grass,” she recommends.

Discussing the basic techniques of revamping a garden, Khuled says, “Lawn grass needs regular mowing, fertiliser at regular intervals and ample watering. All the care you can offer your grass would be worth it. The freshness of lush green lawns is soothing to the eyes and it enhances the visual appeal of surrounding plants and flowers.”

Pasha shares a green garden tip, “Check your lawn for weeds. During the summer, everything grows well, especially the weeds. Ensure regular weeding in the lawn.” Lawns that are patchy need to be checked for culprits, he holds. “Mostly, it is due to salinity in the soil. Remove the soil in those areas and replace with fresh soil and replant. If your lawn dries out or gets patchy, the look of your entire garden becomes unkempt.”

If your garden is dishevelled, the look of your expensive flowers and other plants will ultimately suffer, as Khuled states, “A beautiful garden is one in which all the colours and foliage complement each other. If the grass isn’t taken care of, then the beauty of colourful flower beds is tarnished.” He concludes, “Un-mowed and dry grass is an invitation to weeds and insects. The pests and insects spread to all the other plants as well, aggravating and expanding the problem.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th,  2015.

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