Everything grows fast during the holidays, meaning your garden needs extra attention. The last thing you want is to come home from your vacation and find that the lawn is yellow, the potted plants are almost dead, and weeds have taken over. With these tips, you can prepare your garden for your holiday and ensure it remains healthy during your absence.
Maintenance
Give your garden good maintenance in the days before you leave. Pull out all weeds and cut off faded flowers. It is also best to pick flowers still in full bloom now. In this way, you ensure that the plant does not spend energy on seed formation but on producing new flower buds. Cover the soil in the borders and around your plants with wood chips or a layer of mulch to help prevent dehydration.
The lawn
Mow your lawn just before you go on vacation. Do not mow extra short, with the idea that the next mowing will not be necessary so soon. It is better to leave the grass a little longer to protect it from drying out in hot weather.
Potted plants
The soil dries out faster in pots and containers than in the border. Place your potted plants in a group together in a shady spot, ensuring a microclimate so that the water in the pots evaporates less quickly. And it is also easy for the neighbour who has promised to water them during your holiday. A bowl filled with water under the pots is also a good way to prevent dehydration temporarily. And if you have pots on a wall or a table, put them on the ground. This prevents them from blowing over in strong winds.
The vegetable garden
Before you leave, harvest as many fruits and vegetables as possible because they may be too far gone when you return. You can freeze several vegetables and gift the rest to a lucky person.
The pond
If you have a pond, fill it up before you leave. During a warm period, the water level drops quickly due to evaporation. Remove thread algae because they can quickly close the water surface at this time of the year. Tip: if you use a fountain to maintain the oxygen level in your pond, connect it to a timer so that it switches on and off automatically.
Garden furniture
Cover your garden furniture with a cover or temporarily store it indoors to prevent it from getting damaged or dirty during a storm or heavy rain. It is also best to store umbrellas, cushions, and loose lighting.
Read more about cool garden tips for a hot summer.
