Putting your garden on holiday
Jackie French is off on summer vacation, but with a bit of planning, she’s coming back to a healthy, happy garden. Here’s how you can, too.
Holidays! You’ve arranged work emails, the dog, cat and any mail that might pile up. Yet who wants to return to dead shrubs and a shaggy lawn? A little preparation can put your garden on holiday, too.
The lawn
Mow on the highest possible setting to discourage further growth. Zap lawn weeds – they grow faster than grass, making your lawn look shaggy in a matter of days after mowing.
Shrubs and flowers
1. Water deeply; place an empty twolitre milk container next to them and leave the sprinkler on until it is filled. 2. Use a loose mulch of lucerne or pea straw rather than a dense mulch that may stop rain penetrating your soil.
3. Spray shrubs with a product such as Drought-Shield. It will help plants retain moisture in hot, dry conditions.
Vegetable gardens
Water and mulch as above, then drape fruit fly protection netting over the garden, to reduce moisture loss and hail damage, and stop fruit fly.
Fruit trees
Sadly, many fruit trees crop when you want to go on holiday. If there are just a few fruit, tie fruit fly exclusion bags around them – the fruit will be safe from pests and drop into the bags when ripe, and may still be good to eat when you get back.
If you fear a sticky mess, place shade cloth under the tree where the fruit will fall. It can be easily hauled away when you get home. Use fruit fly baits and traps so that the mess doesn’t also breed fruit flies.
Pots and hanging baskets
Add water-retaining crystals, water, mulch, then place a two-litre milk container of water on the potting mix with a tiny hole in the base to leak water slowly onto the plants.
Or hire a “garden sitter” and install an automated watering system. Better still, offer to “garden sit” for a friend and when you go on holidays, they’ll be there for you.