Securing Your Garden for a Vacation: Tips and Tricks
**Preparing Your Patio Pots for Holiday Absence: Expert Tips and Techniques**
As summer holidays approach, ensuring the health and well-being of your patio plants becomes essential. Monty Don offers practical advice on maintaining moisture levels, watering, and moving potted plants to withstand your holiday absence.
**1. Watering Before Departure** - Thoroughly water your plants before leaving, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings, especially for succulents. For succulents, a good soak before departure should suffice for up to 7-10 days since they store water well.
**2. DIY Drip Irrigation Method** - Fill a plastic bag with water, poke two tiny holes in it with a toothpick, and place the bag in the plant pot. This allows water to drip slowly into the soil, keeping plants hydrated without overwatering.
**3. Self-Watering Systems and Wick Method** - Set up self-watering systems or use a string wick that leads from a water reservoir (like a sink or container) into the plant pot to draw water gradually. Self-watering systems help maintain consistent moisture, especially in hot weather or during longer trips.
**4. Moving and Placement** - Move plants to a shady spot where they will dry out less quickly, and group them together to increase local humidity around them. If you will be away during extreme weather, consider bringing plants indoors.
**5. Drainage and Avoiding Overwatering** - Ensure pots have drainage holes to prevent standing water, and avoid leaving plants in trays of water without drainage, which can cause root rot during your absence.
**6. Choosing Resilient Plants** - Select drought-tolerant indoor plants like succulents or hardy plants that require minimal watering during your absence. Avoid high-water-demand plants such as ferns, peace lilies, and orchids if you are often away.
**7. Preparing Your Garden** - Weeding borders, deadheading flowering plants, mowing, and edging the lawn, and topping up the pond are tasks to do a few days before leaving. Also, harvest courgettes, peas, and beans to keep crops coming.
**8. Lawn Care** - Mow the lawn just before leaving to encourage good growth and keep weeds down. If the weather is forecast to be hot, set the mower blades high. Don't cut the lawn too short, as it will be susceptible to drought.
By following these tips, you can effectively maintain moisture levels and keep your potted plants healthy while you're on holiday. Happy travels!
To supplement your holiday-proof patio approach, consider incorporating water-wise plants into your home-and-garden scene. Choosing plants that thrive on limited water, such as succulents, will cater to your lifestyle and guarantee a lush and vibrant home garden during your absence.
