How to keep your garden happy while you're on holiday
A holiday should leave you feeling refreshed, not wondering whether your hanging baskets have given up the ghost while you were away.
The good news is that with a little preparation, your garden can cope surprisingly well without daily attention. A few simple jobs before you pack your suitcase can help keep everything looking its best until you're home again.
Give everything a good drink
One quick splash with the watering can before you leave is unlikely to do the trick. Instead, give your plants a deep soak the day before you head off. This encourages water to reach the roots where it is needed most and helps plants cope better if the weather turns warm.
Containers and hanging baskets will need the most attention, as they dry out much faster than plants growing in the ground.
Make the most of rainwater
If you've installed a water butt, now is the perfect time to make sure it's ready to earn its keep.
Even a typical British summer can bring the odd shower while you're away. Collecting rainwater means you'll have a sustainable supply ready for when you return and gives neighbours helping out a handy source of water too.
Give your plants a helping hand
A layer of mulch can make a surprisingly big difference before a holiday. Mulch helps the soil hold onto moisture for longer and keeps roots a little cooler during warm weather. It also discourages weeds, which always seem to take your absence as an invitation to grow.
Good mulching materials include:
- Garden compost
- Bark chippings
- Leaf mould
- Well-rotted manure
Think of it as tucking your plants in before you leave.
Give the lawn one last trim
Cutting the grass before you go makes sense, but resist the temptation to mow it as short as possible.
Slightly longer grass holds onto moisture better and copes with hot weather more successfully. It may not look like a bowling green when you return, but it will usually be healthier for it.
Move pots into the shade
If a heatwave decides to arrive while you're relaxing on a beach somewhere, your patio pots will be first to suffer. Moving containers into partial shade helps slow down water loss and reduces stress on more delicate plants. Grouping pots together can also help create a slightly cooler, more humid little pocket.
Ask a neighbour nicely
If you're away for more than a week, it is worth asking a friend or neighbour to pop round every few days.
Keep things as easy as possible by explaining exactly what needs watering.
A simple list could include:
- Hanging baskets
- Newly planted borders
- Vegetable beds
- Greenhouse plants
- Pots and containers
Harvest before you go
If you're growing fruit or vegetables, pick as much as you can before leaving.
Courgettes, beans and tomatoes seem to grow twice as fast the moment your passport comes out. Harvesting beforehand encourages many crops to keep producing once you're home.
Plus, it's one less thing to worry about while you're trying to remember whether you've packed your sun cream.
To sum up, most established gardens are more resilient than we give them credit for. With a little planning, your plants should survive perfectly happily while you enjoy a well-earned break. And if the lawn is looking slightly wilder than when you left, just call it a naturalistic look!