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You Take The Vacation Not Your
Garden
If you are planning to go on vacation, there are some important
tasks that you really must undertake, to ensure that your garden
continues to maintain that well cared for condition which you constantly
strive for.
After all, because you have spent so much of your time during the
rest of the year trying to achieve perfection, it would be a great pity
if some of that good work were to be undone. After all, good
plant maintenance, and care for your garden overall, is an on-going
task.
You do deserve that well earned vacation however, so I put it to
you that you will enjoy the break even more, in the knowledge that you
will not be returning home to any unpleasant surprises.
Here are a few simple steps that I would advise you to take to help
to make sure that all remains well.
Just how much you need to plan in advance depends entirely on how long
that you intend to be away from home.
Even if you are only going away for a week or just over it, I
strongly recommend that you make the time to attend to those basic
garden chores the day before you leave.
For example, I always mow the lawn, deadhead all my flowers, and I make
a point of moving any indoor house plants that I might have temporarily placed
outdoors to blossom, back indoors.
Naturally I make sure that all my indoor house plants are watered
thoroughly before I finally leave.
If you intend to be away from home for two consecutive weeks or longer,
I suggest that you make some provision well ahead of the
time, especially for the care of the lawn.
Perhaps you know a reliable teenager looking for some extra money in
your neighborhood. If you do, strike a deal with him to cut the lawn
once a week during your absence.
Whether he uses his lawn mower or yours though, do make sure that
he knows to cut the lawn at the highest setting on the mower, which
will usually be about three inches or so.
If you have an exceptionally large area of lawn however, or you intend
to be away from home for a much longer period, you would probably
be best to hire a professional Gardener, or a Garden Maintenance Company
to attend to this. (funds permitting of course)
The day before you leave, preferably in the late morning, prune
just recently opened blossoms, taking long stems with the cut flowers. I suggest that you also carry a container of water and water thoroughly.
On the same day prune flower buds also, as the blossoms will have
most likely have opened and wilted during your absence. Check your annuals and perennials for blighted foliage, removing
any discolored
leaves.
Your indoor house plants will also need to be cared for as well during your
absence.
If you intend a long period away, then you really should arrange for
someone to attend to their needs if at all possible.
A good friend or neighbor will most likely be more than willing to
oblige, especially if you offer to return the favor. Your
indoor house plants should be fine though, if you are only going away for a few
days or so.
However if you have a situation where you simply cannot call on anybody
to assist, or perhaps you do not want to impose on anybody, then I have
outlined a few useful steps that you can take, particularly if you are
intending to be away for an extended time.
Move all those indoor house plants that are summering outdoors back inside, but
place them in a shaded area first. Do this during the week before you leave, so as to let them acclimatize
to the change in conditions.
Then bring them indoors, and place them in a spot where they will be
most likely to get the benefit of indirect sunshine.
In the morning before you depart, spread sheets of newspaper on the
floor of the room where your plants are situated.
Water all your plants thoroughly, (whether they need it or not), and
then place them on the newspaper sheets.
Place four large bowls of water around the plants, and cover them with a
large white sheet.
Make sure that the sheet drapes down beyond the plants onto the
newspaper.
This will help to keep your plants moist and healthy.
Remember that the first priority is to have a fantastic vacation.
If you are like me however, you will enjoy it all the more, because you
know that you have taken the time to make sure that your cherished
garden and indoor house plants have been well looked after.
Author: Marie K Fisher
About the Author
Marie K Fisher is an avid gardening enthusiast with a passion for exotic
flowers and wonderful colors. She is a regular contributor to
Garden Center Showplace, and we much appreciate her input
http://www.gardencentershowplace.com.
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