As the holiday season approaches and vacations get planned, it’s time for traveling solo, or with friends and family. While the adventurous spirit must be satiated by traveling, it’s difficult to leave your garden on its own as a nature lover. 

A garden requires constant care and attention for it to thrive, and with you going away for a few days, or even a couple of weeks can put a strain on your garden and plants health, unless you follow the tips given below to ensure your garden thrives while you’re away.

5 Practical Tips For Keeping Your Garden Thriving While You’re Away

Here are five proven ways to not only keep your outdoor plants alive but also ensure a thriving garden in your absence:

Plan Your Garden Care In Advance

Preparing your garden for your departure is as important as preparing your home when you’re leaving on vacation. There’s hardly anyone else who understands your garden’s needs as you do. 

Use that power to create a listicle of everything you can do before you leave to make your garden thrive while you’re away. Does your garden require more water during a certain time and less during others?

Have you recently sowed any new seedlings and need to care for them, or all your harvesting is done for now? Depending on a variety of factors, you can assess what kind of care your garden might need and plan accordingly. If possible, avoid leaving your garden all alone if it’s in its yearly growth cycle. 

Offer Deep Watering Before Leaving

The most important things your garden beds need to keep thriving, even in your absence is lots of moisture and direct sunlight. If you can’t find someone to water your plants daily, or are only going away for a few days, it might be best to water your plants deeply a few days before you leave.

To water your plants and your garden deeply, go with slow watering and give some time to the soil and plants to soak the moisture. Equipment such as soaker hoses and watering wands can help you water individual plants properly. 

You should also use a water timer to create a watering schedule, preferably for the mornings, and keep weather conditions in mind while deciding how much water your garden requires. You may want to check the depth of water and how far it has penetrated the soil surface with either your fingers or any tool such as screwdrivers. 

Find A Way To Keep The Weeds Away

One of the major concerns that can impact the health of your garden and potted plants is the presence of weeds, especially in your absence, who may steal water and nutrients from your plants, disrupting their healthy growth, and destroying your beautiful garden.

The combination of mulch and a weed barrier fabric for your garden can keep your plants safe from weeds in your absence. If you see any new weeds emerging from your garden a few days before you are about to leave your garden alone, use boiling water on them, or use a weed mat to prevent them from growing further. You could also yank off any new growths by hand weeding them while the soil is still moist or use pre-emergent herbicides for spot-treatment methods.

Make Sure Your Garden Retains Moisture

Even with deep hydration, your garden is most likely to run out of moisture, especially if you leave it alone in summer months. To ensure your garden health, find ways to ensure that your garden is hydrated and your outdoor plants are doing as well as your indoor plants.

You could start by preparing your garden soil for the days ahead by mixing organic matter in it to increase its water retention capacity. Adding a layer of mulch to the soil is also a well-known tip for keeping your soil moist and your garden thriving. For hot summer days, consider shifting your potted plants to a shady spot, or arranging a partial shade to keep your garden healthy.

If nothing else works and you still feel that your garden may suffer under dry conditions in your absence, either use the drip irrigation method to keep your plants healthy or a simple keeping the tap open method might be a cheaper way to implement the same outcome as some automatic watering systems. This will ensure that your plants and garden are being regularly watered and can make up for the time while you’re away.

Ask For A Helping Hand

If you’re leaving for a large amount of time, say, a month-long trip to Europe, having a professional gardener or a family member/ friend take care of your garden is the most practical thing you can do to keep your garden healthy.

Providing a checklist of things that they need to do, whether it’s regular watering of plants, checking the moisture level of the soil, or trimming hedges can make it easier for them to manage the garden in your absence. 

You can also leave little notes, or even better ask someone with a green thumb to take charge and decide the best course of action for your garden based on the environmental conditions.

Maintaining Plant Health In Your Absence

Healthy plants and a thriving garden require constant attention and smart care. While it is good practice to take care of your garden plants on a regular basis, you can keep them safe from moisture loss and pests even when you’re away.

By planning what and how much care your garden needs, preparing your plants by offering them deep hydration and making sure they’re soil moisture stays intact in your absence, you can quite literally, save your plants. 

If you’re still worried about your beloved plants and need them to be taken care of, find a trusted friend or professional to ensure that your garden thrives even when you’re away. This will help you enjoy your time away and make your traveling stress free.

READ MORE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDES FROM WANDERLUSTERS