How do I prepare my Dubai garden for summer — plants, irrigation, and maintenance tips?

Preparing your Dubai garden for summer in May is essential — once June and July arrive, most outdoor plants struggle or die without the right support in place. Here's what to focus on:

Plants: transition to heat-tolerant species if you haven't already. Bougainvillea, date palms, oleander, lantana, and ixora all perform well through Dubai summers. Remove or pot-up any temperate plants that won't survive 45°C+ conditions. Mulch around the base of plants to reduce soil temperature and retain moisture — a 5–8cm layer of organic mulch makes a significant difference.

Irrigation: if you don't have an automatic irrigation system, now is the time to install one. Hand-watering in Dubai summer is impractical — plants need watering at least once and often twice daily in peak heat, ideally in the early morning and late evening to minimise evaporation. A basic drip irrigation system with timer can be installed for AED 800–2,500 depending on garden size.

Existing irrigation: check all drippers and heads are functioning and not blocked. Adjust timers to reflect summer watering schedules — most Dubai gardens need at least 20–30 minutes morning and evening from June through September.

Lawn: if you have natural grass, raise the mower blade height and reduce mowing frequency. Natural grass struggles significantly in Dubai summer and may need additional shade. Artificial grass requires a rinse periodically to reduce surface temperature.

Pests: summer brings increased aphid, whitefly, and red spider mite activity. Check plants regularly and treat early — once infestations establish in heat they escalate quickly.