When we start planting our gardens in the spring we are usually not thinking about our summer vacation but there are some things you do in the spring can really help your garden while you’re away:

• Mulching is a great way to help conserve moisture in your soil which is the most important concern when you are away.
• Consider installing a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses that can be put on a timer to deliver water to your garden while you are away.
• If you are planting containers and hanging baskets consider using self-watering containers which can be a great way to keep your containers watered while you are away.
• Use native and drought-tolerant plants in your garden which will be better able to handle a week without your attention.

Ok, so you forgot to take care of these things in the spring. You still have strategies you can employ to give your garden the best chance of making it through your summer vacation:

• The week before you go on vacation give your garden a thorough clean-up. This way you don’t come back to an untidy garden full of weeds, etc. This is also a good time to lay down mulch if you haven’t done so already or freshen up what you put down in the spring.
• Mow your lawn so it won’t look like no one is home while you are away.
• Give your garden a thorough watering the day before you leave.
• Containers will be the biggest challenge to address while you are on vacation. The morning that you leave you should thoroughly water them and then put the containers in a shaded area that is protected from the direct sun or drying winds. Grouping the containers together will also help the pots to conserve moisture and hanging baskets should also be taken down and put in a shady spot along with the other containers.
• If your vacation involves visiting friends and relatives or you plan to cook some of your meals when you are away make sure you pick all of your ripe vegetables the morning that you leave so you can take them with you and enjoy them!
• Don’t forget your indoor plants too! They need to be watered before you leave and any plants located in sunny windows that dry out quickly or that you water frequently should be put in a shady spot in your home to minimize any moisture loss.

If you follow these tips you are more likely to come back to a garden that will recover quickly from your absence.