Plant Sitting

By April Hensley

School is out, flowers are blooming, and birds are singing. We’ve all worked long and hard through dreary winter months and a chilly, soggy spring. It’s time for a well-deserved vacation!

Lots of responsibilities get left behind when we go away. For things like work, that’s a good thing. But others like our pets or livestock, we do lots of planning to make sure our scaly and furry loved ones are well taken care of while we are gone.

Everyone knows about pet sitters but what about plant sitters? Gardeners love their plants just as much. Of course, if someone is coming over to take care of your animals you can ask that they check on your plants too. Whether hiring someone to care for your green lovelies or you decide to go it alone, here’s a few things that may work for you.

First, let’s talk houseplants. They are protected inside, but they are not exposed to rain. They depend on us to provide life giving moisture. Start watching your houseplants for a few weeks. Water all of them and then do not water again until you see them start to slightly droop. This will tell you how much time you have between watering on each plant. If it is less time than you are going to be gone, it may be time to repot the plant to give the roots more room. You can also put them in the kitchen sink right before leaving and soak them several times so that the soil is saturated.

Outdoor hanging baskets and potted plants can be vulnerable too. Check the weather for the time you are going to be gone. If the weather is calling for rain for several days you can move them away from overhangs so Mother Nature can help out. If it’s going to be sunny and hot, water them thoroughly and move them to a shady area. When potting plants look into bagged mixes that help retain moisture longer. Use moisture retaining beads that can be mixed in to the soil while repotting.

For large areas like lawns, gardens, or newly planted trees and shrubs, the best things are a timer and a soaker hose or sprinkler. Sprinklers are great for lawns but for gardens and landscaping use a soaker hose to get the water close to the root and help prevent mold and mildew on the leaves.