Watering plants when away

[Daisy1]

I have this problem every year when we go on a trip for a few days or longer. When we get home, some of our plants have wilted in the heat beyond coming back. We don't have an irrigation system. How can I prolong the moisture in the soil so the plants can withstand four or five days without our watering them? Is there a way?

 

[flowers39]

What a great question. I wish I knew the answer - I am always looking for ways to keep my flowers and veggie garden watered when I'm away. Right now we have our neighbors watering for us when we are out of town.

 

[Bill1]

I am not sure if this will work, but I think I read something about a soda bottle trick. You fill the soda bottle with water and use it like one of those aqua globes. I can not remember how you put the bottle in the ground, though. Does anyone know anything about this trick?

 

[Digger 1]

Isn't there some kind of time release system that can be used for watering? You might try creating some shade. If the plants are movable, try that or maybe putting something over or around them to block the sun a little.

 

[Elanor]

I have heard of the water bottle things before, so I looked into it. There is this product you buy called The Plant Nanny: Add a Bottle, that you hook the liter bottle to. I found it on Amazon, so maybe you can research the product more.

 

[chickie]

Mulch your beds. Mulch helps hold in the moisture. Four days before you go away, water your beds well. Two days before you go away (or the day before is even better if you have time), add a layer of mulch about 2" deep, then water the beds well. Unless you are in a really dry or hot climate, this should keep things fine during your travel. If you're going to be gone more than a few days, it would be a good idea to get a friend or neighbor to come over and water again,

 

[Atalanta]

Mulch really is a great idea. We often use mulch and then one of my husband's relatives is often willing to come water our plants for us. Between the two, it works out well.

 

[Tess]

The soda bottle watering system works great. Several of my pet sitting clients used them and the plants always looked healthy. I think you can buy a stopper part at Lowes or Home Depot. You probably won't be able to find them, however, until more of the spring/summer yard items are put out.

 

[Daisy1]

Great watering ideas

These are all great suggestions, and I think I'm going to try the water bottle idea plus the deep watering and mulching suggestion. We do have mulch already, and we have lots of shade, so those two things are in place already. I hate asking someone else to come over to do these tasks, but I do have a niece who is driving now and would love some gas money.

 

[chickie]

The soda bottle watering system works great. Several of my pet sitting clients used them and the plants always looked healthy. I think you can buy a stopper part at Lowes or Home Depot. You probably won't be able to find them, however, until more of the spring/summer yard items are put out.

Don't those look ugly sitting in the middle of your flower gardens though? I have a bed out back that I could get away with this because it's quite thick at the back but there's no way I could hide them out front.