The two months of July and August are the best holiday season. Everyone is looking forward to the holidays, but this is also the time when your garden will grow rapidly and need regular maintenance. Watering is paramount. Leaving your garden alone for more than a few days can be dangerous. It may be okay, but when you get home, the soil may dry out and your plants may die.
Besides packing and arranging for a pet sitter, there's one more item on your vacation to-do list: keeping your garden thriving while you're away. To ensure that your plants are just as vibrant and healthy when you get home as they were when you left, here's what you should do before you leave.
Just before departure
As your departure date approaches, check the weather forecast. With enough rain, you may not need to water your garden. To be on the safe side, check the forecast a few times in case the weather changes during your departure.
The day before or the day of your departure, water all your plants, but be careful not to overwater them – overwatering your plants can do more harm than underwatering them. Don't overwater so that the soil turns to mud, and don't leave standing water in containers or saucers, as this can cause the roots to rot.
For plants like hydrangeas that will wither in hot weather, water them thoroughly (6 or 8 inches) before you leave. Then, put a few inches of mulch on top of the soil. Mulch will keep the soil cool and moist.
If your vacation is just for a long weekend, going without water for a few days is unlikely to do any permanent harm to your garden or large potted plants. The exceptions are seedlings, hanging baskets, and small potted plants, which dry out quickly and can usually get by without watering for a day or more.
Container potting soil dries out faster than garden soil, so the longer you are away, the more likely all of your container plants will need supplemental water.
One way to slow water loss is to keep the container crowded, which increases the humidity around the plant. Moving the pot into a shady spot will also slow evaporation. Even sun-loving plants will be fine if you keep them in the shade for a week or so.
Be aware that unglazed clay pots will dry out faster than pots made from other materials because the clay will soak up the moisture from the potting mix. A workaround is to temporarily place the clay pot in a slightly larger ceramic or plastic pot.
Plant Caretaker
Remember that plants need about an inch of water per week. If heavy rains are not in the cards, asking a relative, neighbor, or house sitter to water them is an ideal solution. If that person is an experienced gardener, congratulations! You've hit the jackpot as a plant sitter and can go off without a worry.
But if your helpers can't tell the difference between succulents and strawberries, make it as easy as possible for them to tell the difference. Take notes and pictures of things to watch out for, dos and don'ts. This includes a description of the watering system you use. Keep your equipment, hoses, watering cans, etc. in easy-to-see places.
If potted plants are scattered throughout the garden, move them together near a hose so caregivers don't have to drag it out to water them. Keep potted plants with similar watering needs together, leaving instructions for how often to water each group.
Hassle-free watering system
When you don't have anyone to look after your plants, technology can help. There are a variety of watering strategies available, from basic DIY solutions to fully automated systems you can control from your smartphone. These are especially useful if you're growing vegetables or fruits, which require constant moisture to keep the plants thriving and avoid drought stress.
Automatic irrigation systems are an investment, but they can give you peace of mind while you're away. Drip irrigation systems and watering hoses can be set on timers and can be zoned to provide the right amount of water for hot, sunny and shady areas. There are also timer-operated systems for potted plants.
DIY watering hacks, like self-watering pots or plastic containers filled with water (like milk or soda bottles) with small holes in them, are low-tech, inexpensive ways to water both in-ground and potted plants.
Lawn sprinklers can also be automated, but overhead watering methods are less efficient than other methods: Water falls where it's not needed, it's wasted, it wets leaves instead of the soil, and it evaporates quickly.
If you have a fully automated system, have a neighbor or friend walk through the property at least once to make sure the system is working properly and that wind or animals haven't toppled any containers or caused any other damage.
Other things to consider
Plants with pest or disease problems should be treated to prevent larger problems from recurring.
If you use an animal repellent, spray it just before you leave.
Have someone pick ripe fruits and vegetables for you – this helps keep plants growing, keeps animals away, and keeps overripe vegetables from rotting.
Don't forget your indoor plants. If you don't have anyone to look after them, place them in a bathtub filled with 1 inch of water. The water will soak up through holes in the bottom of the pot. You can do the same for outdoor potted plants by placing them in a kiddie pool filled with about 1 inch of water.
You'll be tired when you get home, but after you've put down your suitcase and said hello to your pets, it's time to go outside and see how great your garden is.
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