It's obvious: while you are away on holiday your garden isn’t, and is likely to miss your TLC.

Not just a sorry sight when you come home but, as Alan Titchmarsh suggests in his book 'The Gardener's Year', possibly a security risk. Here are his tips to reduce security risks while you are way.

"It's a good idea not to put containers of plants in the front garden – if they die when you’re away, it will be obvious that you’re not there to look after them, but it’s just as obvious if they suddenly vanish to the back of the house. {Editors' note: If this advice is too late for this year, read on about watering!} Make sure the lawn is cut and the beds weeded. Pack all your garden tools and ladders away in the shed or garage, then lock the door. Lock your side gate if you have one.”

Go to it!

Simple steps to prepare your garden for your holiday, and return

  • Dead head roses, and other plants that flower all summer. They look loved and will reward you with more flowers on your return.
  • Cut back perennial flowering plants that are well past their peak. It may seem hard NOW but they will produce new shoots while you are away.
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Cutting back herbaceous geraniums and other perennials that past their best will make your garden look cared for while you are on holiday. Sarah Buchanan

  • Pick ripe and nearly ripe fruit and veg. and invite your neighbours and friends to help themselves while you are away.
  • Soak containers at least two or three times before you go, and keep drip trays/ saucers under the bottom.
  • Cut edges of borders and paths: nothing makes a garden look more loved and lived in than this simple act.
  • Top up water features.
  • Put away garden toys and games (dog, children, adult) that will look too obviously unused in your absence.
  • Recruit a friend or neighbour to water containers at least every other day if you can, making sure they have a key to the garden gate and can find the outdoor tap.
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Leave watering cans full and ready for use while you are away. Sarah Buchanan

  • If you have them, hanging baskets are likely to be a BIG problem in all but the dampest summer (and yes, we might have that). Install a watering system (not just a friend or neighbour). Garden and DIY centres sell simple systems. No time? No outside tap? Cut the bottom off a large plastic bottle, upend it and push the neck deep into the soil, fill the bottle with water that will seep into the soil steadily while you are gone. Don’t make this addition to your display look too obvious: conceal it among the plants as best you can. As this is a good system when you are at home, start NOW (and use it for containers too).
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Cut the grass and edges before your holiday: this is clearly my top job today! Sarah Buchanan.

While you are away - don't worry about plants in borders or your lawn. If we have hot dry weather and grass turns brown, it will recover quickly once the rain returns. And if plants in borders can't manage without you then they may not be the best choice for your patch.

Looking ahead – plan an easy care garden for your holiday

(and other times too of course)

  • Choose plants that suit your area and don't need lots of hand holding (watering).
  • Choose plants that need little water.
  • Enrich borders and containers with organic matter that holds moisture to feed plants.
  • Go easy on containers.
  • Avoid the temptation of hanging baskets.

Have a lovely holiday. Come back full of ideas for your garden area!