When should you plant new trees or shrubs in India? Most people think of planting in the monsoon season as they prefer gardening at this time of the year. However, others claim that planting in the winter season is an ideal option. Let us help you know what the experts have to say.
Growing Interesting Tree Species in India
In India, we can come across an immense variety of exotic and indigenous flowering trees. These can be effectively utilized to beautify our homes, cities, towns, and the entire landscape. Therefore, a dedicated plantation plan should be made and adhered to strictly in addition to a road plan.
Beautifully planted and maintained avenues with flowering trees appear pretty with immense beauty and colour all around. The trees should not appear patchy as it does not appear aesthetic in any landscape.
Several trees burst into bloom aesthetically. On the other hand, other species offer a pleasing contrast with the decorative foliage. You can plant the flowering trees in the back portion of the house. A group of Cassia or Plumeria at the boundaries can help in adding the overall grace and charm to the house. You can also come across various other tree species that boost the overall aesthetics of the landscape naturally and effortlessly.
Planting Trees in India
The best time to grow trees in India is the monsoon season. The rainy season in India ranges from June to September. In North India, you can think of planting trees during January-February before the start of new growth. In such a scenario, saplings that are 1-2 years old can have an improved chance of surviving while flowering early.
Here are some points to take care of:
- To ensure the ease of planting, you can dig in larger pits -usually one meter in diameter. You should dig the pit at least 2-3 months before planting the seeds or plant. The soil should be then mixed with a good portion of organic manure. Next, allow it to settle down by watering the pits and exposing to the rains.
- The tree saplings that you plant should feature a straight stem. The main shoot should not be disturbed. Before you plant the ball of earth around the roots, it should be cracked without damaging the roots. It should then be planted with the root collar below the ground level.
- As you plant the samplings, you should remove all broken or dead branches. Unruly roots should also be removed. You should ensure that the soil around the plant’s roots is firmly consolidated once planting is done. You should water the soil thoroughly while also staking it properly.
- If you are growing trees in a public area, you should aim to protect them in gabions until they grow quite large. You should maintain a distance of around 5-14 meters between subsequent plants. It would ultimately depend on the size of the plants.
- To ensure the rapid growth of the saplings, make sure that the pits are weeded properly. The pits should also be appropriately hoed such that the soil remains loose and free from any weeds.
Tips to Grow Trees During the Monsoon Season
Plants tend to bloom well while adding a fresh feeling and lush look to our homes. However, while the monsoon season is the best for planting trees, still there is a risk of potential infection during the rainy weather conditions. Therefore, during the rainy season, you are expected to put in equivalent efforts to beautify the plants.
Some of the essential tree planting and gardening tips for the monsoon season are:
Avoid Stagnation of Water
The accumulation of rainwater around plants or saplings is a major issue during the rainy season. It washes away the essential nutrients available in the soil. Ultimately, it will deprive the plant or sapling of the necessary nourishment.
Therefore, when you plant a sapling during the monsoon season, make it a point to ensure provision for proper drainage. Also, see to it whether or not excess water is moving out of the garden or backyard. For instance, succulents usually require a good amount of water. Still, it would help if you also took care of exposing the saplings to some hours of sunlight -right after rainfall.
Prune Regularly
Prune your sapling effectively with proper cutting and pruning tools regularly. During the process, you can think of taking off parts as soon as the rainy season starts. The rainy season is regarded as the perfect time for new shoots to grow. However, you should also create proper space for them to grow.
Use Fertilizers and Earthworms
You can use fertilizers and earthworms during the monsoon season to make sure that the soil does not lose its fertility. Earthworms can help in keeping the soil aerated while ensuring that water percolates below the surface. You can think of using a good quality of slow-releasing manures and fertilizers for the plant.
Pull Out Weeds
Weeds are capable of proliferating during the monsoon season. Therefore, the weeds soak up ample nourishment that is intended for the saplings. Therefore, ensure weeding in timely intervals to avoid the harmful growth of the weeds.
Make Provision for Ample Lighting in the Garden
During the rainy season, natural lighting is a concerning factor. It is especially true if you have saplings that require ample lighting or access to sunlight. Therefore, you can think of using artificial lighting to serve as the ideal alternative. It will help in getting rid of excessive insects during the rainy season. You can allow some toads or frogs to enter the home plantations for keeping your garden or backyard insect-free during the monsoons.
Do Not Walk on Wet Soil
Avoid walking on wet soil in your tree plantation site during the rainy season. It holds especially true when you aim at planting new saplings capable of packing the soil particles together. If you walk on wet soil, it will squeeze out the oxygen necessary for ample growth.
Remove the Algae
To take care of the trees that you grow during the monsoon season, you will have to get your hands dirty. With the help of gloves, get rid of the slimy algae that might start growing at the onset of the monsoons. Check the soil surface for patches of green algae. Aim at removing them as soon as you observe them.
Use Perforated Sheets
To prevent the young saplings from heavy rain, you can use a perforated sheet right above them. When compared with opaque sheets, perforated sheets do not hinder the overall plant growth. But, on the other hand, perforated sheets only protect the plants from excess rain while delivering them the much-needed moisture.
Offer Physical Support to the Plants
When you have just planted a sapling for growing into a fuller tree, they might be vulnerable to strong winds or harsh weather conditions during the monsoon season. If you have young growing trees or smaller plants, try offering them ample physical support. It will promote rapid growth during the best season for tree growth.
Ensure Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion
Excessive rainwater can lead to soil erosion in your backyard. It would ultimately hamper the overall growth of plants. Therefore, it is recommended to create a proper barrier around the young plants such that the soil does not get eroded. However, you should also make sure that the barrier does not lead to waterlogging.
Monsoon in India is a time for soil nourishment and crop yield. The rainy season is your ideal setting if you are a nature-lover and love planting trees and flowers. As you start preparing to grow your tree or plant during the monsoon season, you can take proper steps to maximize the growth.
While rain provides the much-needed moisture and nutrients for ample plant growth, it can also hinder the development -especially during the early stages. Therefore, it is crucial to be attentive to your little plant during its initial growth stage. Happy gardening!
