#Title

#GUIDES

How to start a rooftop flower garden during monsoon
The rainy season comes bearing many gifts. It saves us from the scorching heat that summer brings and provides a rejuvenating atmosphere for all living things on Earth. It truly is a perfect time to start a delightful adventure of a flower garden up on the rooftop. Urban cities do not have the luxury of an expansive garden but this article will give you some tips on how to make the best space on your rooftops for a truly unique flower garden lush with life and vibrant with colours.
The right spot
Starting, you will need a good space for your canvas of flower plants. Finding the right spot should take into account sunlight and proper drainage. Make sure the space has ample sunlight ideally for a few hours. This is crucial, especially during the first seedling phase. Another aspect is to make sure the flower plants are close to the drain so the excess water has somewhere to flow and does not waterlog your plants. If there are no natural ways for drainage, then consider a raised flower bed which will help immensely with this problem.
Flower choices
Picture this: Every time you walk onto your rooftop, you are greeted with a burst of vibrant colours from the variety of flowers that you have carefully cultivated. The sweet aroma fills the air as you walk amongst the beautiful flowers and the monsoon mood just makes that much better! Given that it can rain quite frequently and with great force, opt for resilient varieties like marigold, hibiscus, jasmine, and zinnia. Not only are these flowers gorgeous to look at, but they can also withstand the occasional heavy rainfall.
Soil and containers
Now that you have your flower ensemble ready, it is time to select their homes. As it is monsoon season, it is important to have containers with proper drainage holes so that excess water can drain properly. This is important for the roots as air is also important besides water and sunlight. Fill your pots with loamy soil enriched with organic fertilisers. This magical concoction will provide your flowers with the much-needed nutrients so they can thrive. Happy roots lead to happy blooms.
Monsoon-proof care
You may think that as it is raining almost all the time, you can let mother nature do all the work. That really is not the case and a little tender loving care goes a long way in terms of flower health. Water your plants consistently to ensure proper growth and root health. Keep an eye out for any pests or diseases that might arise from the moist environment. It is good to regularly inspect your plant and maybe even use some organic pest control measures to keep your plants protected. Remove any dead flowers as that usually hinders continuous blooming.
Mulching madness
Mulching is an important process of covering the surrounding soil in your pots with some material for a variety of purposes. It is generally done to help retain the moisture in the soil and to prevent weed growth. It also has a decorative element to it depending on the type of mulch you use in your garden.
You can use shredded leaves, shredded barks, grass clippings, coconut husks, and hay. There are non-biodegradable ones that you can use like plastic and rubber coverings but it’s advised to stick to natural materials so that they can be part of the ecosystem and you will not have to be replacing them constantly.
Rainwater efficiency
During monsoon season, mother nature generously gifts us with an abundance of rainwater. It is a splendid idea to collect this water in barrels and containers, using it for watering your plants later. Rainwater is a great mixture of many nutrients and minerals that our tap water usually lacks. Plus, you are conserving a good amount of water by doing this thus reducing your ecological footprint.
Be the artist
After all that is said and done, your garden is not just a collection of flowers but a canvas waiting for you to flex your creative muscles on. You can experiment with a variety of heights and arrangements for your botanical beauties that please your eyes. Try adding some decorative elements like colourful pots, hanging baskets, or trellises to create a captivating tapestry. Let your garden become a part of who you are and watch it bloom into an oasis of happiness and serenity.
By Abdul Warith Khan
Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed