If you have a garden and are going on vacation, you might wonder what to do with your plants. The truth is that it’s not hard to keep them alive while you are away from home, but there are some tips that can help. This article will teach you these four tips for keeping your garden alive while on vacation.
Find a plant-sitter for free
If you have a lot of plants in your garden and are planning on going on vacation, it’s probably a good idea to find someone who can take care of them while you’re away. The good thing is that you don’t need to pay for most of these services!
There are plenty of people who would be happy to help out in exchange for nothing. You can ask your friends and family if they can watch over the garden while you’re gone. It’s probably easiest if they live close by so that they can check up on it regularly.
However, if not, give them instructions on what you want growing there and make sure they know when or how often they should water the plants or prune back any flowers that have stopped blooming yet. If you don’t know any gardeners, ask around at local nurseries or hardware stores. Maybe someone there knows a gardener willing to help out for free! If not, check online for gardening forums where people often offer their services.
You could also advertise in town that you need assistance with your yard—that way, anyone who sees them will know about it when they’re looking for work.
Mulch, mulch, mulch
Mulch is a protective layer of organic material placed on the soil surface around plants to keep moisture in and weeds out. Mulches can be as simple as a layer of straw, leaves, or pine needles. You only have to choose an appropriate mulch for your garden or ornamental bed. Pie needles are typically the cheapest option, but they may decompose quickly and require frequent replenishing.
Straw is good for spots with heavy rains because it soaks up water like a sponge before releasing it over time into the ground. Wood chips and bark make great mulches for raised beds and vegetable gardens because they help retain moisture without suffocating plant roots (and they look nice, too!).
You can use mulch in flowerbeds and vegetable gardens, but not around trees or shrubs. They don’t provide a very attractive appearance, and they may prevent water from reaching the roots of plants.
The best time to apply mulch is in the fall because the soil is warm during this time of year. When mulch is laid, it will trap in the warmth while protecting the plants from winter frosts. In that case, when you’ll be away during fall, don’t forget to mulch. However, before you do, remove all weeds that have emerged during the growing season.
You can also add organic material such as compost or manure as a top dressing before mulching.
Anticipate hot and rainy weather
One thing to keep in mind is that the weather can be unpredictable. You should prepare for hot and rainy weather by installing shade structures and rain barrels. If you’re leaving town during cold weather, mulch your garden beds to conserve water and use less of it so as not to shock the plants when you return from vacation.
If all else fails and you think you need professional help, try searching for local Facebook groups or even just asking friends if they know anyone who could help with your garden maintenance while away on vacation.
Hire experts to control pests
If you’re uncomfortable using insecticides or pesticides in your garden or don’t want to worry about pests while you’re away, then hiring a professional specializing in front yard maintenance service is the best way to go.
It’s important to hire a professional because they can identify which bugs need attention first and get rid of them quickly using natural products or fertilizers. Yes, these professionals use organic methods in dealing with pests. That way, you don’t need to worry about insecticides causing damage to your garden anymore!
More importantly, when you hire professional garden experts, you have more time to relax on your vacation, knowing everything is under control back home.
Final Thoughts
Once you have the means to have someone look after your garden while you’re away on vacation, then do it! It’s not very expensive and will be well worth the money spent. But if that doesn’t work out for you, don’t worry. You can still do things to ensure a healthy garden while you’re away from home. The tips shared above are just some ideas on how to keep your plants watered and fed while away from home.
