Keith Hansen

Last week, I provided some suggestions for items to add to your vacation itinerary, namely visiting public gardens on route to or at your destination. There are public gardens in most major cities in the United States and abroad, and they can be a relaxing and enjoyable activity for you and your family.

But if you are planning an extended vacation this summer, be sure your landscape is in order before leaving. Lawns, gardens and landscapes left unattended for several weeks are subject to the ravages of summer sun, wind and heat. By tending to a few items before leaving, you can make a big difference in the health of your plants when you return. Here are a few tips which should help ensure your landscape will not suffer the post-vacation blues.

First order of business is to take care of your plants' water needs. Soak your lawn, gardens and all landscape plants deeply before leaving. Light-textured soils can dry out rapidly even after a heavy watering, so if you'll be gone for over a week, set up your watering system so a neighbor can do a little supplemental watering if it doesn't rain.

Gardens, shrubs and flower beds should be mulched with at least a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic matter to help conserve moisture. Use clean mulch, free of weed seed and one which will remain loose and well aerated. Use pine bark or needles, cypress bark, shredded leaves, dried grass clippings, compost or other organic materials. Mulching also reduces or eliminates weeding chores.

Move potted plants into a shady spot to reduce the need for water. The soil will still dry out and need watering, but perhaps not as often. Again, if you'll be gone for awhile, ask a neighbor to plant sit for you.

Mow your lawn just before leaving, but do not lower the mower a notch to compensate for prolonged inattention. Scalping in the summer can lead to scorching and injury to the lawn. Mow at the same height, and if you'll be gone more than a week, pay a friend or neighbor to mow the lawn for you. Not only will the lawn look better when you get back, but timely mowing helps reduce stress on the grass.

Prune back any hedges or other plants that are likely to grow unkempt by the time you return. Elaeagnus is one shrub that comes to mind that could look pretty ragged if left unattended for any length of time. Do some grooming to your annuals and perennial flowers. Cool-season flowers and spring bulbs with brown foliage can be cleaned up. To help with the overall appearance of your home, neatly edge the walks and flower beds before leaving. It is much easier to care for these chores while growth is not out-of- control.

Speaking of keeping plants neatly groomed, learn more at the "1st Tuesday in the Garden" program offered by Smith County Master Gardeners, a volunteer group supporting the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. June's topic is "Flop Proof Gardening." Master Gardener Dee Bishop will discuss how and when to prune your perennials and annuals to prolong the blooming season and keep your garden looking good throughout the summer months into fall. This free seminar is during the noon hour on Tuesday, June 2, in the IDEA Garden, located in the Southeast corner of the Tyler Rose Garden.

Before taking off on your trip, do a walkthrough of your garden to make sure that there is not an insect or disease problem brewing. Summer insects and diseases do not vacations, so make sure your plants are not going to be "lunch" for some critters while you're gone.

Harvest all ripe or nearly ripe fruit and vegetables. Give away what produce you cannot consume before your trip. If you'll be gone over a week, invite a friend or neighbor to come pick beans, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. Many vegetable plants left unpicked will cease to put on new growth or will get stressed and stop fruiting. Also, apply a light application of fertilizer to the garden to keep the crops growing.

If you have any yard equipment that needs repairing, this would be a good time to take it to the shop. It will be ready to be put back to work when you return.

An overgrown yard looks vacant and might invite unwanted visitors. Arrange for a neighbor to pick up newspapers or ask the newspaper circulation desk to hold them until you return. Newspapers scattered over the front lawn are a dead give-away that no one is home. Lights on a timer helps give the impression that someone is home.

Enjoy your vacation. Landscape preparation for a summer vacation may sound like a lot of extra work. But, it's not really much more than the normal weekend chores involved in maintaining a healthy, well-groomed landscape.

Portions of this article are taken from an article written by Ted Fisher, former Travis and Cherokee County Extension Horticulturist.

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