Master Every Season with This Garden Checklist

Sustainable living is increasingly capturing the interest of real estate investors and buyers, focusing on practices like energy efficiency, waste reduction, and garden maintenance. These efforts aim to minimize environmental impact and promote long-term ecological well-being for both individuals and communities.

Therefore, buyers who prioritise environmental needs gravitate towards green homes, which are designed for water, electricity, and organic material sustainability. That said, gardens are a natural part of green homes.

Continue reading this article to discover our ultimate garden maintenance checklist and explore the best green homes in Abu Dhabi. Before delving into the details of garden care, it is essential to consider an important factor when gardening in the hot weather of the Emirates, as explained below.

Garden Maintenance in the UAE: Plant Choice

You must choose plants that are tolerant of the UAE's hot climate to set you up for efficient garden maintenance. If the plants you choose are not tolerant of intense heat, no amount of care can change their innate nature.

When choosing your plants, consider their placements, your garden’s location in relation to the sunlight, their maintenance levels (low or high maintenance), their watering needs, and whether or not they are pet-friendly.

Also, keep in mind that outdoor plants are fundamentally different from house plants; they have different requirements that you should cater to. In other words, even the best house plants may not be suitable for your outdoor garden unless they can live in intense sunlight and hot weather.

How to Maintain a Garden in Abu Dhabi’s Climate

If you are a resident of one of Abu Dhabi’s top green homes, your garden maintenance should take into account the Emirate’s hot weather. Follow the below garden maintenance checklist for a healthy and aesthetically appealing garden:

1. Timely and Adequate Watering

Since high temperatures increase water evaporation levels, it is best to water plants early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation.

To make watering plants less time-consuming, you can group plants with similar water requirements together, which is especially efficient if you use an irrigation system.

It is also recommended to use a drip irrigation system to deliver water directly to the roots of plants, minimising water waste and achieving water sustainability.

Another lawn and garden maintenance tip is to use a water sprinkler for lawns, achieving even water spread and absorption across the entire lawn area.

2. Proper Shading

Shading is as crucial as watering for the well-being of plants, especially considering the Emirates’ hot climate. So, you should create artificial shading by adding umbrellas and shading sails above your plants, or you can place them under a pergola if your garden has one. To attend to all shading needs, create plant clusters based on shading requirements.

Also, you can use temporary shade covers made of breathable fabrics for delicate plants and utilise the natural shade of bigger plants and trees, where you can place smaller ones.

Finally, apply mulch to the surface of the plant’s soil to help insulate it, reduce water evaporation, and regulate its temperature.

3. Pest and Disease Management

Pest and disease management is essential in garden maintenance, particularly in hot weather that increases the likelihood of pest infestations. To prevent pests from harming your plants, clean and trim them regularly, as insects typically settle on the underside of leaves.

Make sure to use organic pest control methods as much as possible to lower chemical effects and maintain better ecological health. Also, if you notice an ailing plant, place it away from other plants so they do not get infected.

4. Lawn Care

The lawn needs special care to be kept lush and healthy in harsh, hot weather like that in the Emirates. First and foremost, you should regularly mow your lawn to prevent weed growth and the spread of disease and encourage grass growth in the gaps, giving the lawn a neat look for an immediate, aesthetically pleasing effect.

You should mow the lawn at least once a week and set the mower at a higher height. Taller grass blades provide more shade to the soil, enabling the grass to cope with heat stress. Moreover, raising the cutting height of the mower to 5–10 cm prevents the grass from turning brown.

5. Proper Fertilisation

Your choice of fertiliser should have a suitable formula for plant care in hot weather. So, it is advisable to look for a fertiliser with a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Additionally, choose a slow-release fertiliser that provides a steady nutrient supply over time, preventing fertiliser burn, which is more likely to happen in hot climates.

Follow the recommended fertilisation timing and frequency for each plant. However, fertilise the plants during the cooler times of the day—early in the morning or later in the evening—to reduce the stress on plants, enabling them to better absorb nutrients.

Conclusion

Green homes attract investors and buyers for a more eco-friendly lifestyle as they achieve everyday sustainability. If you are looking for a sustainable home that offers environment-friendly living yet a luxurious and convenient lifestyle, check Aldar properties in Abu Dhabi for the best living experience.

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