You Take The Vacation - Not Your Garden

If you are planning to go on vacation, there are some important tasks that you really must undertake to ensure that your garden continues to maintain that well cared for condition which you constantly strive for.

After all, because you have spent so much of your time during the rest of the year trying to achieve perfection, it would be a great pity if some of that good work were to be undone.

You do deserve that well earned vacation however, so I put it to you that you will enjoy the break even more, in the knowledge that you will not be returning home to any unpleasant surprises.

Here are a few simple steps that I would advise you to take to help to make sure that all remains well.

Just how much you need to plan in advance depends entirely on how long that you intend to be away from home.

Even if you are only going away for a week or just over it, I strongly recommend that you make the time to attend to those basic garden chores the day before you leave.

For example, I always mow the lawn, deadhead all my flowers, and I make a point of moving any house plants that I might have temporarily placed outdoors to blossom, back indoors.

Naturally I make sure that they are watered thoroughly.

If you intend to be away from home for two consecutive weeks or longer, I suggest that you make some provision well ahead of the time, especially for the care of the lawn.

Perhaps you know a reliable teenager looking for some extra money in your neighborhood. If you do, strike a deal with him to cut the lawn once a week during your absence.

Whether he uses his lawn mower or yours though, do make sure that he knows to cut the lawn at the highest setting on the mower, which will usually be about three inches or so.

If you have an exceptionally large area of lawn however, or you intend to be away from home for a much longer period, you would probably be best to hire a professional Gardener, or a Garden Maintenance Company to attend to this. (funds permitting of course)

The day before you leave, preferably in the late morning, prune just recently opened blossoms, taking long stems with the cut flowers. I suggest that you also carry a container of water and water thoroughly.

On the same day prune flower buds also, as the blossoms will have most likely have opened and wilted during your absence.

Check your annuals and perennials for blighted foliage, removing any discolored leaves.

Your house plants will also need to be cared for as well while you are away. If you intend a long break, then you really should arrange for someone to attend to their needs if at all possible.

A good friend or neighbor will most likely be more than willing to oblige, especially if you offer to return the favor.

Your plants should be fine though, if you are only going away for a few days or so.

However if you have a situation where you simply cannot call on anybody to assist, or perhaps you do not want to impose on anybody, then I have outlined a few useful steps that you can take, particularly if you are intending to be absent for an extended time.

Move all those plants that are summering outdoors back inside, but place them in a shaded area first. Do this during the week before you leave, so as to let them acclimatize to the change in conditions.

Then bring them indoors, and place them in a spot where they will be most likely to get the benefit of indirect sunshine. In the morning before you depart, spread sheets of newspaper on the floor of the room where your plants are situated.

Water all your plants thoroughly, (whether they need it or not), and then place them on the newspaper sheets.

Place four large bowls of water around the plants, and cover them with a large white sheet. Make sure that the sheet drapes down beyond the plants onto the newspaper.

This will help to keep your plants moist and healthy.

Remember that the first priority is to have a fantastic vacation.

If you are like me however, you will enjoy it all the more, because you know that you have taken the time to make sure that your cherished garden and house plants have been well looked after.

Marie K Fisher is an avid gardening enthusiast with a passion for exotic flowers and wonderful colors. She is a regular contributor to Garden Center Showplace a leading online Garden Center. For more details of the superb range of products offered, and also more Featured Articles And Tips on Gardening visit http://www.gardencentershowplace.com

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:25:40 GMT Boeing union leaders recommend strike - MarketWatch Washington Post Boeing union leaders recommend strike MarketWatch - 1 hour ago By MarketWatch Leaders of the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers on Friday rejected Boeing's third and final contract proposal and recommended its workers vote to go on strike. Union Leaders Reject Boeing Contract Offer Wall Street Journal Boeing Union Urges Workers to Reject Offer, Setting Up Strike Bloomberg Bizjournals.com - guardian.co.uk - The Associated Press - TheStreet.com all 1,041 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:15:15 GMT Aid agencies scramble to help flood victims - CNN CBC.ca Aid agencies scramble to help flood victims CNN - 39 minutes ago (CNN) -- The grinding misery triggered by the massive floods in a downtrodden part of northeastern India and across the border in Nepal persisted Friday, with government and aid agencies swinging into action to help the 2 million-plus people fleeing ... India: Up to 2000 feared dead in Bihar floods guardian.co.uk Millions displaced in Bihar floods PRESS TV Reuters India - CNN International - New York Times all 551 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:45:57 GMT US Economy: Spending Slows, Inflation Accelerates (Update1) - Bloomberg Washington Post US Economy: Spending Slows, Inflation Accelerates (Update1) Bloomberg - 6 hours ago By Shobhana Chandra Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- US consumer spending grew at a slower pace in July as the impact of the tax rebates faded and a pickup in inflation eroded Americans' buying power. Bonds fall on mixed economic reports CNNMoney.com Consumer spending flags, but confidence rises Reuters Wall Street Journal - New York Times - MarketWatch - AHN all 520 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:25:06 GMT Earwax: Too Much of a Good Thing? - WebMD eFluxMedia Earwax: Too Much of a Good Thing? WebMD - 5 hours ago By Kelley Colihan Aug. 29, 2008 -- The body is a miraculous mechanism. Consider the once-lowly earwax. People used to try to remove it. Leave That Ear Wax Alone Washington Post National Guideline Against Ear Poking eFluxMedia MSNBC - RedOrbit - MedPage Today - eMaxHealth.com all 36 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:32:14 GMT Protests Rise in Thailand In Challenge to Regime - Wall Street Journal GulfNews Protests Rise in Thailand In Challenge to Regime Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago By JAMES HOOKWAY and STEPHEN WRIGHT BANGKOK -- Waves of antigovernment protests spread beyond Thailand's capital Friday as clashes between police and demonstrators intensified, forcing the closure of several regional airports and disrupting rail ... Thai protest alliance not so happy with democracy The Associated Press US asks Thailand to end crisis through democratic means AFP New York Times - BBC News - guardian.co.uk - Reuters all 2,421 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:33:23 GMT Microwave baby killer convicted - BBC News BBC News Microwave baby killer convicted BBC News - 3 hours ago A US court in Dayton, Ohio, has convicted a mother of murdering her one-month-old daughter by burning her to death in a microwave oven. Video: Prosecutor: Ohio Mom Killed Baby in Microwave AssociatedPress US jury convicts mom in microwaved-baby case International Herald Tribune ToTheCenter.com - WZTV - NBC6.net - Dayton Daily News all 689 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:30:22 GMT Obama’s Plane Palin Problem - FOXNews BBC News Obama’s Plane Palin Problem FOXNews - 2 hours ago by Major Garrett Reporters covering Barack Obama heard the news aboard Obama 1 (the campaign for the first time chartered a second plane for the swelling press corps), just before takeoff. Video: Raw Video: Schwarzenegger Praises Palin kcratv “Tougher in Alaska” host Geo Beach discusses Sarah Palin Christian Science Monitor CBS News - Chicago Tribune - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com - Seattle Post Intelligencer all 5,468 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:07:29 GMT RSS to Blog RSS Software

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Hummingbirds ? Attracting Those Little Flying Powerhouses

It's early in May a beautiful fairly warm day so... Read More

An Outdoor Swing is A Great Way to Relax

There is simply no better vantage point from which to... Read More

Hummingbird Nesting Facts

Every spring the United States and Canada are blessed with... Read More

Garden Room Boundaries...

The areas of your landscape can be divided into several... Read More

How to Grow Basil

Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs... Read More

Fertilizing Your Water Lilies...

Unfortunately, sunlight is not enough.Your water lilies will grow, thrive,... Read More

Gardening is Good Therapy

Many of us garden just for the sheer joy of... Read More

Cast Aluminum Furniture

In days gone by, outdoor furniture was cast from iron.... Read More

Grey Water- Not Drinking Water- For Your Garden

The average home can reduce their water consumption by around... Read More

Science Cant Explain Everything!

You will know that if you have spent at least... Read More

A Rose is a Rose?

There are many varied definitions of what each color of... Read More

5 Pieces of Equipment Gardeners Cant Live Without

Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a... Read More

Porch Swing Places: Where to Put a Porch Swing

So you've purchased a Porch Swing (or are about to)... Read More

Tips on How to Plant Roses

When spring comes and the ground is thawed, it is... Read More

Tips For Successful Backyard Grape Growing

Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a... Read More

Durable Wooden Swing - Decorate Your Outdoors with One

There is nothing better to do on a hot, lazy... Read More

Slugging It Out In The Trenches

In an effort to introduce a shaft of sunlight into... Read More

Secrets of Growing Killer Tomatoes

Tomatoes have always been my favorite garden vegetable to grow... Read More

The Sundial - Garden Ornament or Exotic Timepiece?

Most of us regard a sundial as an attractive ornament... Read More

How to Control Deer in Your Garden

Deer are the most difficult of all pests to deter... Read More

How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no... Read More

Teak Furniture: The Premier Outdoor Furniture

When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase... Read More

The Home Garden

The garden should be near the house and away from... Read More

Growing a Sustainable Garden!

Do you wish you could grow a sustainable vegetable garden?... Read More

How to Grow Chocolate Cosmos

Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguinea) is both nose and eye candy... Read More