how do you water garden when on holiday?

bluenose1

Dear all,
just wondered if anyone had any tips on how to keep garden plants watered while on holiday.
Not too worried about my shrubs but I have planted approx 30 perennials in the last month or so. I also have 6 tomato plants in pots.
Don't want to undo all my moneysaving cheap buys.
Regards
Anne

Punky

I use a water slice in my pots from https://www.evengreener.com

Immerse the slice in water or liquid feed to keep plants healthy for 1-3 weeks. Not cheap at £4 for 2 but reusable.

SusanCarter

You could set up the sprinkler and ask the neighbour to put it on for an hour every couple of days.

hardpressed

You could give your plants a good watering every evening until just before you go away then cover the soil with a thick mulch of grass cuttings or even a thick layer of newspaper weighted down with stones. Remove the mulch when you get back. The tomatoes would be best put in the shade and hope for the best. The very best idea is to get a neighbour to water for you in exchange for you doing the same them.

jennifernil

We use a drip watering system controlled by a time clock, turns on the water for about 20 minutes every day.

Chipps

I get my mum to do it when she comes in & feeds the cat & the goldfish.....

In fact I only asked her to water the important stuff - ie the tomatoes & cucumbers in the greenhouse, but she did do the other garden veg as it had been dry. She did the same for one of her neighbours (excluding feeding the cat - she used to feed their cat when they were away, but it died earlier this year.)

Do you have a friend/neighbour/family member who would come in a couple of times during the week, check on your post & water the most important plants?

bluenose1

Dear all,
thank you for your suggestions.
Unfortunately the neighbours are elderly and unable to assist. The only one I could ask is my MIL but she is coming on the holiday with us!!!!!
We have the membrane stuff over the soil covered in thick bark. Not sure of the technical name. Took a while to do but has stopped the weeds. I wonder if that will keep it moister than normal.
I have seen in the Bettaware catalogue spikes that attach to an plastic bottle (empty bottle of lemonade etc) that is meant to slowly release the water into the ground.
Has anyone used these before??? Loath to waste my money if don't work.
Regards
Anne

Linda32

From your list as far as I'm concerned you only need to worry about the toms. The shrubs unless planted within the last week or so, never need watering, if they do, you'ed be worry about yourself first, put it that way.

The periennials, maybe if planted in the last week or so again. If they've come back again from last year then you've deffently got nothing to worry about.

I'd got for one of those betterware thing'ies, I know the one's you mean, for the Toms.

Hope that helps and Happy Holidays

mgw99

Punky wrote:

I use a water slice in my pots from https://www.evengreener.com

Immerse the slice in water or liquid feed to keep plants healthy for 1-3 weeks. Not cheap at £4 for 2 but reusable.

Don't know if they're exactly the same, but they have water slices on this site: 5 for £6 + £1.50 packaging

Debt_Free_Chick

Give them a thorough drenching before you go, then apply a thick layer of mulch.

Penny-Pincher!!

Next door neighbour, family or friends?

PP
xx