There’s no better way to unwind and relax than by taking a vacation. In fact, studies show that workers who take vacations experience lower stress levels than their counterparts who don’t take vacations. But if you plan on going away for more than three days, you’ll need to make watering arrangements for your garden.
While some plants are better equipped to handle dry spells than others, all plants need water to survive. So, how can you keep your garden watered while on vacation?
Put Your Sprinkler on a Timer
One idea is to connect your sprinkler system to a timer. Using a timer, you can specify the days of the week, time of day and duration for when the sprinkler runs.
Best of all, it doesn’t require any special equipment to set up. Just install the sprinkler at the base of the faucet, adjust the settings, and you’re good to go. Sprinkler timers typically sell for about $50 to $200.
Make a Self-Watering Bottle
Another idea is to make a self-watering bottle for your plants. Take an empty glass bottle (e.g. wine bottle) and fill it with water. Next, quickly place the bottle upside down so the neck is penetrating just a few inches into the soil.
Gravity will force the water out the bottle and into the soil, though this process happens gradually to provide your plants with a steady, constant source of hydration.
Mulch and Water
Of course, if you aren’t willing to invest in a sprinkler timer and you don’t have access to any glass bottles, you can keep your garden watered while on vacation simply by mulching and watering it before you leave.
Mulch will absorb and retain a significant amount of moisture, keeping your plants hydrated for multiple days. Just pile 1 or 2 inches of mulch over your plants, after which you can water them as usual.
Ask a Neighbor
Unless you in a rural area, you can probably get a neighbor to water your plants while you’re away. Most neighbors will gladly water your garden, especially if you offer to return the favor if they ever need it.
These are just a few solutions to keep your garden watered while on vacation. Regardless of which one you use, inspect your plants for signs of damage and disease when you return. If you’ve accidentally watered them too much, they could be suffering from disease.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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