Watering Plants While on Vacation
You’re all excited about your upcoming summer vacation, but what about your plants? Outdoor plants might be able to survive on forecasted rainfall, but this can be few and far between during the summer months, depending on your climate. Then there’s indoor plants that have nothing to fall back on. So, what can you do? Read on for some tips on keeping both indoor and outdoor plants growing well while you’re away.
How much water do your plants need
How much watering your plants require while you’re away will depend on the types of plants and shrubs you have planted. Obviously, if you’re growing a garden full of cacti, then you don’t have as much to worry about as they require less water. If you’ve got time to plant ahead, then here are some drought resistant shrubs that could go in your garden.
On average, typical garden plants require around one inch of water per week. If your yard is unlikely to get this much rainfall while you’re away, then you will need a solution for this, which we’ll cover in a moment. Of course, if you’ve got a friendly neighbor or family member who will offer to water your plants for you, then problem solved! If you’re only going away for a weekend or a few days, then it may be enough to give your plants a good watering before you leave.
Mulching
Mulching is one way to retain moisture in your soil while you’re on vacation. Covering your soil with organic mulch will help to keep the moisture in and prevent your soil from drying out in the heat. Make sure that the soil is well-watered and then spread a layer of mulch over the bed, especially around the roots of flowers and shrubs.
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is an effective way to keep your garden watered even while you’re away, and you can find the necessary equipment from a local garden center. A hosepipe will be laid across your flower bed and connected to the garden faucet. You can then apply a timer to your faucet to have it turn on at set times to supply your garden with a steady flow of water when it needs it. This can be combined with mulching for an even more effective and longer lasting solution.
Making sure that your plants are located in the shade as much as possible can also help to prevent the soil around them from drying out. If you don’t want to leave your garden up to chance, we also offer maintenance services for gardens around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville, so we can make sure your plants are looked after while you’re enjoying your vacation. Get in touch for more information or vacation watering tips.