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.

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 house plants that I might
have temporarily placed outdoors to blossom, back indoors.

Naturally I make sure that they are watered thoroughly.

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 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 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 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 house plants have been well
looked after.

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 a leading online Garden
Center.
For more details of the superb range of products offered, and
also more Featured Articles And Tips on Gardening visit
http://www.gardencentershowplace.com

 Marie K Fisher

More Articles 

Enjoying holiday poinsettias year-round, indoors and out - NC
(NC)—The poinsettia has become a mainstay of holiday decorating and offers gorgeous colour during the colder winter months. The good news is that with proper care and attention, a poinsettia can be moved outdoors to enjoy in the summer garden...

Cedar Outdoor Garden Furniture: What Makes It So Remarkable? - Jesse Akre
Once people realize all of the benefits cedar outdoor garden furniture has to offer, they quickly begin to realize why this type of outdoor furniture is so popular. Not only does cedar outdoor garden furniture resist warping, the...

Welcome Guests In Style With A Quality Doormat - Paul Graham
A quick, inexpensive and easy way to give your doorway some style and attitude as well as a warm and welcoming feel, is by adding a doormat. The doormat's main function is to stop dirt sand and snow from entering your home. There are now...

Selecting The Best Deck Railing Designs For Your Custom Home - Adam Peters
Selecting Deck Railing Designs That Match Your Style Most people invest a lot of time and energy into finding the right deck railing designs for their home. Fortunately there is a wide selection of free deck railing designs available on the web...

Outdoor Patio Furniture: Exploring the Benefits of Teak - Mike Spencer
Of the many types of materials that are available for the construction of outdoor furniture, teak is often overlooked. This beautiful wood - of tropical origin - adds character and elegance to your outdoor design through a blending of nature and...

Whack-O-Matic - Tammy Clayton
Copyright © 2005 Tammy Clayton Morning coffee with the internet has become a tradition of mine in recent years. The internet holds a much greater variety of information than the newspaper, as well as less depressing things to read at the beginning...

Bonsai Trees - Andrew Green
What are Bonsai trees? Many people think of tiny little Japanese trees cut and pruned to a miniature size but literally speaking Bonsai means 'plant in a tray' and while they are smaller than their wild counterparts they don't have to be a...

Why Rose Gardening Is So Addictive - Chester Smith
For many of us, the act of gardening brings us closer to nature by getting us outdoors and allowing us the opportunity to tend and grow objects that in the absence of our assistance would not be able to survive, let alone thrive. There is a special...

Decorating with rocks, the beauty of rustic decor - Joseph Lewitin
Rocks are dirty, crude, hard, and just plain nasty. But there is another side to rocks. They are also durable, beautiful, and come in a huge variety. When a piece of stone is cut from a mountain, it is cut into a giant slab. This slab looks like...

Starting Plants From Seed - Jonathon Hardcastle
One of the most fun and rewarding aspects of gardening is starting plants from seeds. And it's not that expensive either. To start, you will need basic materials like containers, soil or a soil-less mixture, light, water, a fan and a plastic cover...

Improve Your Pest Control - News Canada
(NC)-Pests come in a variety of forms, from mice, earwigs, ants and grubs to invasive weeds. They can trigger allergies, carry disease, contaminate food and even damage our possessions. But a few simple preventative measures can stop pests...

Choose The Right Furniture For Your Outdoor Retreat In 3 Easy Steps - Summer Hewitt
The great outdoors is the place to relax, but with everyone's busy schedules, no one has the time to do that weekend trip to the mountains or the beach. After reading this article you should be able to create your own weekend retreat, ...