A hol lotta love
as the fruits and flower heads get bigger – it’s best to prepare just in case.
Anything that’s ripe can be picked now and you can freeze your glut of chillies or peas and beans, ready to thaw and consume as and when you need them. Any strawberries and tomatoes can be harvested early and left to ripen in the fridge, which is better than leaving them to spoil.
I’d recommend gathering young beans, peas and baby courgettes before you leave too. If left to mature on the vine, these will stop the plant from producing. If need be, slow the growth of any leafy green crops that may spoil, like cress and lettuce, by providing them with more shade.
CREATURE COMFORTS
Use the time away to take a break from mowing. Many people mow the
lawn as short as possible so it’ll last until they’re back, but the opposite is true.
I always leave my lawn to grow slightly longer just before a holiday, so that the grass can hold more moisture and recover itself if there is a dry spell.
Plus, when you return, a fresh trim will mean the grass will look better than ever.
Those of you are who are feeding birds and hedgehogs in the garden, please make sure you leave them a supply while you’re away.
I make a point of providing plenty of food and fresh water for the birds – and bees will need it too.
Garden wildlife get used to gathering food and if the supply suddenly stops, they can get disorientated, go hungry or dehydrate.
Pop out enough food and drink to last the week and clean over the feeding stations so they look great and are hygienic to use.
In brief, while you get some rest, keep your garden looking its best with these easy-breeze techniques. These sturdy plastic self-watering plant spikes are a brilliant idea – allowing you to recycle water or pop bottles into plant reservoirs. The regulating valve allows you to decide how much water to release, and it simply soaks out into the soil while you’re away on holiday. Perfect for indoor or (sheltered) outdoor plants. These were £17.99 for 24 spikes (remember you need your own empty bottles) from amazon.co.uk