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Taking a Vacation From the Garden

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Donna W. Moramarco

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Garden Hose
Photo Credit: Donna W. Moramarco
Don’t hide the hose – keep it handy for your garden helper!
You’ve waited months for it, and it’s finally here – your summer vacation! You’ve packed your bags, gassed up the car and grabbed a map as you head out the door. How nice to be free of the day-to-day grind for a while.

So whose green thumb is taking over for you while you’re on the beach, and what will your garden look like when you return? The answer: It all depends on how well you’ve planned. Here are some helpful dos and don’ts so you and your garden will enjoy the time you’ll be spending apart:

Do prepare a list of garden chores to be done while you’re away, then find and hire a responsible neighbor or teenager to help get the chores done. Provide written detail, and have your helper spend some time with you in the garden before you leave. Show him or her where things are and how you’d like the work done.

Do plan to have your lawn mowed if you’ll be away for more than 7-10 days. Your garden helper doesn’t need to fine-tune every square inch of grass the way you would, but it’s wise to keep the lawn at the proper mowing height so you don’t come home to an overgrown jungle of grass!

Do invite a neighbor or friend to harvest any ripe vegetables or fruit from your garden. What a waste to let ripening edibles rot on the vine – share your bounty while you vacation!

Do have all the needed tools handy! Think about the chores you’ve asked your helper to do. Make sure the lawn mower has gas, hoses are attached to spigots, sprinklers are nearby and so on.

Tips
  • Prioritize what needs to be done in your absence. Your attention to garden detail can wait until you return, but focus on getting the overall important tasks done while you’re away.
  • Make sure your garden helper fully understands what’s expected of him or her before you leave on vacation! (And agree on the fee you’ll pay before you go, too. This way there shouldn’t be surprises when you return.)
 
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  • I’m on Vacation, But My Garden’s Not
    Vacations should be relaxing and enjoyable times away from home. The last thing you want is to worry about your garden. Learn to prioritize, and you’ll come home to happy plants.
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