Dry season prep: Gardening tips for surviving the weather

The Dry Season in the Caribbean usually occurs from January to May and with that comes a level of anxiousness for garden enthusiasts hoping to maintain those plants until the climate becomes more favourable again. 

A harsh dry season with little to no rain could spell trouble for a plant’s longevity and you will need to have a strategy for continued growth as well as decide which plants could withstand the season better.  

Here are some tips for ensuring plants remain in tip-top shape during the dry season:  

Use mulches 

Mulch (Photo credit: iStock)

According to All About Gardening, one of the best ways to keep plants alive during the dry season is using mulches.  

Mulch helps retain water in the soil and also prevents weeds.  

Mulches can include grass clippings, fallen leaves and plant debris. Using this organic material can prevent soil from heating up and your plants from losing too much moisture.  

Cover your crops/Create some shade 

Shade or canopy for plants (Photo credit: iStock)

Creating some shade for your garden during the dry season can help prevent heat stress.  

You can either move your potted plants to an area which has taller plants to benefit from natural shade or for larger plants, a shade cloth or cloth tent can be used to block out extreme heat.  

Consider tolerant plants  

Succulents (Photo credit: iStock)

Sometimes harsh realities require harsh decisions and the best bet to keep a garden flourishing during the dry season may lie in growing some plants which are tolerant to the heat and require far less water. 

According to All About Gardening, cacti and succulents are some options as well as plants native to your country.  

Water in the early morning 

Woman taking care of plants (Photo credit: iStock)

 Don’t wait until the midday sun is out to water your plants, get an early start ahead of the sweltering heat.  

Watering plants in the early morning will help the moisture reach the roots before evaporating when the direct sunlight starts to hit.  

Some water in the late evening is also an option but not too much, as according to All About Gardening, leaving plants (leaves) wet all night can lead to rot.