We just got back from a camping vacation and it is amazing how the garden took off while we were gone. My neighbor took over watering duties and had the fortune of well timed rains in her favor. After so many weeks of dry weather, she had to only water once even with the heat Milwaukee had this last week. She should have bought a lottery ticket with luck on her side.
If you have to ask someone to water for you while you leave town, remember a few simple rules to make life easier for that person. First, move your pots together whenever possible so they can be watered as a group. They will need it more often so make it a quick job for your friend filling in for you.
Second, leave your hoses off the reels so they are easily moved back and forth for your water person. If you leave it on the reel, they will feel the need to put it back, leave it out and they will do the same. So what if you have yellow lines over your grass when you come back, It will recover.
Third, set up sprinklers in the important spots so it just requires a quick hook up and go. If you have soaker hoses, make sure that using those are an easy task for the person taking over. They don't know what goes where so make it easier for them.
Fourth tip: Get a quick hose coupler system so it is a quick turn of the spigot rather than connecting and reconnecting hoses. I have one set to the front yard, one to the back, and the tomatoes are on a soaker right at this point.
Fifth and sixth, keep all the tools visible and keep the pots close to the water source. It shouldn't be a game of hide and seek for water heads, hoses, or plants. If you have things that need more water, keep them close to the water source so a quick hit can be done easily.
Seventh tip: Stake the plants before you go. Plants put on a lot of growth in a week. Make sure they will be staked and trellised in anticipation of the growth that will take place while you are gone. This will keep the plants up out of the way for watering as well as secure them if a wind storm should hit while you are away. Your plants and your neighbor will thank you.
Finally, remember your friend with an appropriate gift when you return. They did bring your garden through the week for you.
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