It can be disheartening to return to your garden after a relaxing holiday to find that bugs, birds and the weather have taken their toll. Preparation is key, especially in the vegetable garden, as December and January marks the beginning of the harvest for many fruits and vegetables.
To minimise the damage while you're away, there are a few simple steps you can take:
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Before you set off on holiday, remove all weeds in the garden, as they will compete for precious water and nutrients. Weeds also harbour bugs and diseases that can spread unchecked through your garden. While you are weeding, check for any fruits or vegetables that are ready and harvest them there and then.
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Check for disease and pests and apply a spray before you go to clean up any bugs that are lingering. Use a natural Pyrethrum spray like Yates' Nature's Way. It's safe to use before harvest and remember to spray under the leaves and in the union on the stems.
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Feed the garden with a fertiliser before you mulch. Sheep pellets will break down from the moisture generated by the mulch. Plants will resist pests and diseases better when they are healthy and this is even more important when you are not there.
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Water deeply for a couple of days before you go, soaking down to the subsoil. After watering apply a thick layer of mulch, this will conserve the water applied and suppress the weeds. If you are away for a longer period of time, enlist the help of a neighbour to water your garden or set up the hose, sprinkler and add a water timer to the tap (see November issue for irrigation help).
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If you have a lot of plants in pots, the same precautions apply: weed, feed and mulch. Pots dry out quicker than the garden, so move them to a shady spot. Group them together and put them where the sprinkler will reach them. Sprinkle Saturaid around the base of your pot plants and water it in; this will maximise the effectiveness of the water that your pot plants use by directing it to the roots and holding it there.
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Mow your lawns and trim the edges. It pays not to advertise that you are away by leaving your lawn untidy. Lawns will also benefit from the use of Saturaid, which you can sprinkle over the whole lawn and water in.
