Ensure your garden doesn’t go to seed while you’re away
FOLLOW MY GUIDE TO PREPARING PLOTS BEFORE YOU GO ON HOLIDAY AND YOU’LL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A BREAK WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT IT
WE might be holidaying in the UK rather than flying abroad this year, but getting the garden ready for any sort of absence is still vital. Last-minute packing for your holiday can often mean forgetting something important. Unfortunately, our plants can also suffer if we’ve not left enough time to prep them properly.
Returning from a wonderful UK staycation to find the garden worse for wear can be crushing. Luckily, there are some easy steps to ensure plants survive without you. naturally improve the humid climate, so they’ll all benefit.
Not only that, but the reflection of the bath’s bright white sides does a great job at maximising natural light, so your plants will enjoy a holiday to the bathroom while you’re away.
IT’S a good idea to get up to date with gardening jobs before you go. Give the garden a general tidy up, weed and water your borders and beds, and clean up the patio so everything is spick-and-span for your return.
Removing any troublesome weeds will also stop them sucking moisture from the soil, competing with your beautiful blooms for nourishment.
Also, it’ll stop them seeding so you won’t see an abundance of weeds popping up after your return.
Another great idea is to add an inch or two of bark chippings to your borders to help to lock moisture in and keep weeds down.
Likewise, crop any grass or weeds growing around the bottom of young trees or shrubs to help them survive.
Weed block and bark chip will stop them coming back. Deadheading bedding plants will prepare you for a pleasant arrival, greeted by flowers.
And don’t cut the lawn – longer grass holds moisture better. Instead, before you leave, stick to your normal mowing routine up until your holiday. Once you get back, mow with higher blades, lowering them each time until you get it back to the length you want. If you are away for a week, a normal routine mow will be fine.
IF you’ve got a friendly neighbour who is willing to keep an eye on your garden while you’re away, make it easier for them by grouping your patio pots and containers together.
You can get wheeled container stands from garden centres which makes moving heavier pots a breeze.
For plants that are situated under the eaves of your home, consider moving them away from the house so they can benefit from any rain, but try and keep them in a slightly shaded spot, if possible, to save them from drying out.
Likewise, keep them sheltered from the wind, which can increase evaporation massively.
If you don’t have a friendly