Water while you’re away!
Keep plants happy when you’re on holiday
Few gardens will survive a week of unrelenting warm, windy weather without supplementary watering, but many of us take a summer holiday. So how do we keep our plants happy while we’re away?
If a friend or neighbour is willing to help, invite them round to show them the plants that are important to you, but try to keep it simple for them!
Alternatively, you can attach a seep hose or sprinkler to a water butt, so you can make the most of any rainwater. They can also be fitted to an outside tap and, using a timer, will deliver a constant drip of moisture close to the plant roots. Different automatic watering systems are available for beds, pots, hanging baskets and greenhouses, which you can set to come on at specific times.
Move your pots into a semi-shady spot, and top the soil surface with gravel to help reduce evaporation. You can invert a plastic bottle of water into a pot, with its lid drilled through with some holes, and the plant will gradually take up the water as it dries out. Pop houseplants on a wet towel or capillary matting in the bath or sink.
The day before you go, deadhead all dying blooms and harvest ripe and nearly-ripe crops. Mow the lawn and trim the edges, spreading the clippings around treasured or susceptible specimens to help keep moisture in.
Finally, soak all your plants thoroughly.