How to Care for Your Garden Before Vacation
What we did before leaving our farm for a week in 90º heat
Last week, we left our farm for a full six days—right as temperatures hit the 90s. While it’s never ideal to step away from the garden during a heatwave, sometimes trips are booked months in advance. You just have to make it work.
Here’s exactly what we did to prep the garden before we left:
Weeded ahead of schedule
I usually weed every Monday like clockwork, but this time I did a second round on Thursday. Staying ahead of the weeds means less competition for water while we’re away—and way less chaos when we get back.
Planted any lingering seedlings
Anything still in trays got planted. If it was ready, it went in. I didn’t want to come back to find things fried in the greenhouse fried.
Mulched heavily
After planting, I mulched exposed soil. We used wood shavings as mulch. It helps keep the roots cool, holds in moisture, and cuts back on weed pressure.
Set up irrigation on a timer
We use sprinklers, so we set them to run every other day while we were away. You could choose daily watering for containers, but for in-ground plants, every other day strikes the right balance between moisture and water conservation. Could you water daily— yes! If you have plants that wilt easily in heat — like dahlias.
Why we didn’t water daily? Less frequent, deeper watering encourages stronger root systems and prevents plants from getting dependent on constant surface moisture.
Sprinkler Timer link
Harvested everything close to blooming
I cut anything that was just about to bloom—even if we couldn’t use it. Harvesting signals the plant to keep producing, and it also keeps things from going to seed while you’re gone. And I knew I was going to have a lot of harvesting to do when I got back.
Other Quick Tips for Vacation-Proofing Your Garden
Group and shade container plants
Pots dry out faster than beds. I moved all of ours into a shadier spot and gave them a deep soak. If you’ll be gone more than a few days, set them in a shallow tray of water—or ask someone to stop by midweek if you can.
Secure tall or top-heavy plants
We staked and tied our tall plants before we left—super important if a summer storm rolls through while you're away.
Handle pests before you go
I did a quick sweep of the garden and pulled anything struggling or diseased. No one wants to come home to a full-blown infestation. Trust me—we learned this the hard way last year with squash bugs on our pumpkins.
Double-check your timers and tools
Right before we left, I ran our sprinkler timer to make sure it actually turned on and off when it was supposed to. Don’t skip this step!
Don’t forget your houseplants
I watered ours right before we left. If you’re gone more than a week, group them in the tub with a little water at the bottom—especially if they love humidity.
Whether you’re leaving for a weekend or a full week, a little prep can make all the difference. It keeps your plants alive—and makes coming home feel a whole lot better.
Rachel is the owner of Bloom Harvest Flower Farm
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