Christmas Gardening – Holidays away

Keeping the garden alive if you're going away can be a consideration in winter, although most of us focus much more on the need to give plants care when we go away in summer.

House plants

Get all your indoor plants together in the bath with a few old towels or sheets on the bottom that are sodden. Then sit the plants in about an inch of water which should provide sufficient moisture while you're away. If you don't have a bath you could use a baby's bath or other similar container. If you are going to be away for an extended period you could put some cling wrap over about three quarters percent of the bath to create a humid environment.

Outdoor containers

Outdoor plants in containers should also be moved together into a sheltered and more or less shady position. The porch is ideal, but make sure you don’t position them under dripping eaves. Strong sunlight in winter can cause damage to plants, because it thaws frost damage very fast and that can kill plant cells. Wrap tubs in sacking, cardboard or bubble-wrap if they are likely to suffer frost damage

Garden tasks

Lay planks on your lawn before you go away – if a neighbour is coming in to care for the house you don’t want them treading a path across your lawn as they feed the birds or whatever.

Check sheds for leaks after heavy rain or snow if you’ve been away. Either replace or patch the roofing felt, depending on how badly it has worn and use a dehumidifier (hire or buy one) to dry out your shed.

Make sure a neighbour will come in to feed birds if this is your habit – they can starve if you fail to keep up the food supply.

Christmas gardening holiday care photograph by n28ive1, used under a creative commons attribution licence