Keep a Thriving Garden in Your Absence - Top Tips

One of the big worries for our homeowners with gardens is how to keep a thriving garden when they are away from home. Many of us take holidays in the summer so this makes the challenge a bigger problem as this is the biggest growing season for our gardens. Read on to learn our top tips on keeping your garden at its best even when you are away from home.

How To Keep a Thriving Garden While You’re Away

Planning a holiday or heading out of town for a few weeks? While you’re off enjoying yourself, it’s easy to worry about what’s happening back at home – especially when it comes to your beloved garden.

True, you might have found a house-sitter so you know things are safe and sound, but if they may not be into gardening and you want to ensure things are going to look good – and be alive – when you get back, there are a few things you can do to help you, the sitter, and your garden. With that in mind, here are some useful tips for keeping your garden thriving while you’re away; read on to find out more.

trowel with soil — Regular garden maintenance makes it easier for you to keep a thriving garden even in your absence

Photo by Lisa Fotios

Water Wisely

One of the biggest challenges for any garden while you’re away is keep it watered – after all, if you don’t water the garden, it’s highly unlikely you’ll come back to much (unless it happens to rain all the time, and even then, it might not be enough). One great option is to install a drip irrigation system or have some soaker hoses in place and that way your plants are going to get a steady supply of water. Just set them up with a timer and you don’t have to ask anyone to help either.

If you’ve not got an irrigation system, there are some DIY solutions that can help – one idea is to fill plastic bottles with water and place them upside down in the soil, which slowly releases the water over time. And if you’ve got potted plants, make sure you move them out of the sun so they don’t lose too much moisture.

Trim And Tidy

garden path with trimmed lavender hedges — Keeping pathways trimmed and tidy is one way to keep the look of a thriving garden

Photo by Lamia Walker

Before you head off, make sure you give your garden a little grooming session (which can help to calm you if you’re stressed by holiday packing and planning as well). This is one way to set up your property for easy care while you are away, and keep a thriving garden in your absence. You’ll want to trim overgrown plants, deadhead flowers, and pull any weeks up too.

Consider applying a granular pre-emergent herbicide to prevent new weeds from germinating and growing while you’re away. This will help maintain the garden’s appearance and health, so you’ll return to a treat, not something nasty. That way, not only will your garden look its best, but it can also help it grow better while you’re away, so you’ll come back to a treat, not something nasty.

As for the lawn, mow the grass a day or two before you leave, but don’t cut it too short (which is tempting and does seem to make sense – the shorter it is, the shorter it will be when you get back) because that means the grass won’t be able to get as much moisture, and it could die off, especially in hot weather.

the perfect garden — However small your garden ensure your plants are watered to ensure a thriving garden in high season

Photo by Lamia Walker

Rely On Help

As we’ve said, you might have a house-sitter, and your house-sitter might be a happy gardener, in which case you’ve got nothing to worry about. Prepare the garden for your sitter and ensure they just have watering to do to ensure you keep a thriving garden even when you are away.

But just in case, it can be worth speaking to others, get some advice, to help you to ensure things stay looking good in your garden. Ask a reliable friend or neighbor to pop by and check on your garden while you’re away and leave clear instructions about when to water, plant care, and anything else they might need to know.

Final Thoughts on How to Keep a Thriving Garden in Your Absence

the pet dog standing in a thriving garden with rose bushes — The garden can be a paradise for pets and all visitors if well tended

If you’d rather not leave things to chance, what about hiring professionals like DD’s Landscaping? In that way, your garden won’t just get checked on, but it’ll get checked on and maintained by experts who know exactly what they’re doing – that’s sure to give you great peace of mind so you can enjoy your trip even more.

And if you’re considering additional features to enhance your garden’s beauty and tranquillity before you leave, Your Pond Pros offers stunning options that adds a peaceful, aesthetic touch to any outdoor space.