Transforming an arid or neglected piece of land into a productive, sustainable, garden takes far more than soil improvement, forward planning and hard labour. In creating the paradise of your dreams, you need to actually alter the existing climate of the garden area too. This may sound farfetched or even impossible but, nevertheless, it is perfectly true.

Unless climate adjustments are made, an arid garden — one with more sand than soil for instance, and without any shade — is an extremely difficult area in which to establish a general range of plants. Tough, drought-tolerant, indigenous plants and desert grasses may thrive, but not plants such as dahlias, roses, jasmine, herbs and seasonal vegetables and the other beauties that most people wish to grow.

Investing in good quality top soil, organic manure and organic compost are, of course, a basic necessity in bringing such a garden area to productive life. But sustainable productivity also requires the thoughtful introduction of various degrees of shade, wind protection and natural humidity control. All these, in combination, have an effect on the ambient temperature in different parts of the garden area. The specific areas where the climate varies from one spot to another, are known as ‘microclimates’ and, with observation, careful planning and lots of patience, are not difficult to create at all. In fact, gardeners create microclimates all the time, but are mostly unaware that they are doing so.

By creating perfect microclimates you can have areas in your garden tailored to suit specific plants that may otherwise struggle without your intervention

Growing shade-loving species in a spot shaded and protected by evergreen trees and shrubs is to provide them with the exact kind of microclimate they need. The same goes for species that prefer dappled shade in summer and the warmth of full sun in winter. They thrive in the shade of deciduous trees and shrubs which protect them from direct sun and heat in summer and then, after shedding their leaves in autumn, expose them to the winter sunlight they desire. These two aforementioned examples provide, with correspondingly suitable soil amendments, ‘man-made’ microclimates for specific groups of plants which will not thrive without them.

The orientation of purpose-made microclimates matters too: cool climate plant species being cultivated in Karachi for instance, do best in a northward facing site, where created microclimates can be surprisingly cooler than other parts of the garden. Plants from tropical countries, that need both heat and humidity, do best in a microclimate facing south and, if at all possible, with a small pond. This can simply be a large, cement planter full of water with, for added interest, a water lily plant growing in it. This, as water slowly evaporates in the heat, helps maintain humidity closer to tropical levels than is the norm in Karachi for most of the year.

Making microclimates involves understanding the exact lie of your own land, the orientations of north, south, east and west, predominant wind directions at different times of the year and having a working knowledge of which trees, shrubs, etc. provide shade, or partial shade, through the different months of the year and planning and planting accordingly.

Once you get the hang of creating microclimates, you will have the ability to create cool spots, hot spots, humid climate, dry climate and other such areas throughout your garden, thus incredibly expanding on the range of plants you can grow. And please don’t be afraid of experimenting or making mistakes, as it is all a learning process. The ability to create microclimate, of course, will take time, as nothing worthwhile in the gardening world is instant.

It takes knowledge and research, of course, and also time, but gardening time is never lost as you learn more and more as you — and your plants and climate magic — progress.

For example, I was openly laughed at by local people in the Murree Hills for planting, in meticulously prepared/cultivated microclimates, both orange and lemon trees many years ago, at an altitude of 6,000 feet, with winter temperatures way below zero and lots and lots of snow. It took time and huge helpings of plant/tree-love until I successfully harvested fruits from both — the lemon production far exceeding the orange. Those who had laughed were suddenly rushing down to the plains to buy orange and lemon trees. Sadly though, they refused to accept the necessity for creating microclimates and so wasted time, effort and cash.

In creating microclimates, you also create wonderful environments for all types of birds, bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects along with boosting the invisible network of microbes working away at sustainable soil and planetary maintenance below ground.

Understood and done properly, microclimates are a win-win all round.

Take up the challenge and you will see!

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. Answers to selected questions will appear in a future issue of the magazine.

This takes time. The writer does not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, EOS, July 21st, 2019