Everyone needs to go away from time to time to rest and relax. When children are out of school, families take the longest holidays in the summer. When planning your big escape, don't forget to think about what your houseplants and garden will look like when you're away.
If you are going to be away from home for a week or more, you can return to the missing plants with significant damage.
This is especially true for plants grown in containers both indoors and outdoors. Try to find a family member or friend familiar with the plants who will check on you regularly and water as needed. Be sure to leave instructions in writing.
for indoor plants
If houseplants will be solitary, move them away from bright, sunny windows so they consume less water. However, this does not mean keeping them in a dark room; They still need bright ambient light to stay healthy. Soak them well before leaving. Even leaving water in saucers under the pots, which we don't usually do.
Plants in small pots dry out quickly. If you know from a previous watering that the plants will dry out before you get home, wrap the plants (pots and everything) in clear plastic bags to retain moisture and prevent them from drying out. Plants in plastic bags should receive bright light, but not direct sunlight, which can create excess heat in the plastic.
For external containers
Plants in outdoor containers should be watered almost daily. Place all your outdoor container plants with a hanging basket in a shady spot near the north side of the building or under the protective cover of a large shade tree or covered patio. Group the plants together as this, along with a shady spot, will help slow water loss.
If you're away for more than a few days and can't find anyone to water it, inexpensive watering timers available at nurseries and hardware stores can work very well with irrigation systems.
The battery or electrical box is connected to an external faucet. All you have to do is set a timer for when you want the water to go (usually depending on how often you need to water your plants) and for how long and it will automatically water your plants.
It is probably easiest to use a sprinkler to water a group of potted plants. But if you want to get more complex, drip systems are also available. Attached to each container is an emitter head connected to a thin plastic tube. When the water timer goes off, the tube delivers water to each tank, where the emitter drops the water to the ground. Very little water is lost, but it takes more time and money to create such a system.
flower beds and lawns
Water your home garden well before going outside, especially if there has been light rain. Slow, thorough soaking will provide a long-term supply of moisture.
Be sure to mulch all flower beds, orchards, shrubs, and newly planted trees with a 2-3-inch layer of leaves, pine straw, pine bark mulch, or other available mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Flower beds and vegetable gardens are especially vulnerable to drought while you are away. For automatic watering, install hoses or sprinklers to cover different beds and areas of your landscape. Connect it to the hose attached to the timer on every faucet you use for water. Set a timer once or twice a week and keep it on long enough to thoroughly saturate the area. Also, set each watering timer to a different time so you don't lose water pressure while watering. Morning watering is preferred.
Be sure to mow and water your lawn before you leave, and if necessary, schedule mowing while you're away. Most lawns need to be mowed at least every seven to ten days. Besides being a clear sign that you're gone, overgrowth is bad for your lawn and your lawn will be unhealthy and stressful when you're done mowing.
other work
Harvest all ripe, near-ripe or harvestable vegetables to avoid waste and encourage continued production. Eat, freeze or harvest. Ask someone to keep an eye on and regularly pick vegetables like okra, zucchini, and cucumbers while you're away.
Thoroughly clear the soil of weeds and make sure the mulch is at least 2 inches thick. Due to the rapid growth of weeds, a small problem can turn into a big disaster while you are away.
Before you go, make sure the steps and bed are well fenced off. This is another situation where it will be difficult for you to manage growth while you are away when you return.
I know that you have a lot to do when you are preparing for your vacation. But be sure to think and take the time to make sure your plants survive when you're gone.
Gardening columnist Dan Gill answers readers' questions every week. To ask a question, email Gill at dgill@agcenter.lsu.edu .
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