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Alfresco
art is the city's grace Enjoy art outside, from Dale Chihuly's glorious and sometimes
gloppy glass at New York Botanical Garden to an eccentric 'Corner Plot' near Central
Park
Bar
is denied license for a beer garden
Busch
Gardens to detail new attraction on Wed
Citizens sue over approval of 606 homes in Garden Valley Group says Boise County
Commission called a private session on Southfork Landing without following law
Commissioner's
idea makes Lake Tobesofkee home to butterfly garden
Enjoy
rhythm and blues at Botanical Garden
Garden
oasis opens at Arlington Memorial
Garden
of youth Middle schoolers' summer project is a part of a national trend that lets
students learn how to grow, distribute and enjoy organic food
GARDEN
STEPPINGSTONES
Hillside
garden a labor of love
On
the grounds New gardens, old buildings will greet 2006 Fair visitors
Plant
a rain garden
Retail
'village' rises in Winter Garden
Time
to give your garden a late-summer pick-me-up
Water,
water everywhere Going away Planning will keep your garden green
water,
water everywhere Going away Planning will keep your garden green
While
Bruce Forrest spent a week with his family at a cottage in the Thumb, two other
gardeners watered his vegetables. All three rent plots at the community garden
in Taylor's Heritage Park. After seeing the care they gave their own rows, Forrest
was confident his vacation stand-ins wouldn't let him -- or his plants -- down.
"They might even do better than I do," says Forrest, 63, a retired retail
manager. The two split the duties so Forrest's plot got watered every other day.
Taking time away from home can give pause to people with many hours and much effort
invested in their lawns and gardens. Sure, a change of scene is welcome. But what
about saying good-bye to a well-watered garden and coming back to find it bone
dry? A droughty lawn or thirsty perennials often come back. But annuals and vegetables
can't make it too long without water, especially when it's hot. So people leaving
their plants might swap watering duties with someone for whom they'll return the
favor in the future. Or hire a neighborhood youngster for an agreed-upon watering
schedule and cost. Here are additional strategies for making sure plants are still
living when your time away is history.
Lawns
If you'll be gone more than a week, mow a bit shorter
than usual. Regularly watered turf should be soaked before you go. If you've allowed
the grass to go into its natural summer dormancy, don't start watering now. Arrange
for someone else to mow if you'll be gone longer than a week.
Containers
and hanging baskets
Move outdoor containers and baskets into shade. Water
well. Mulch exposed soil.
To gradually release moisture, mix water-absorbing
polymer crystals (available at garden centers) with water and spread that on top
of the soil. The polymer is usually mixed into soil at planting but can work as
a topping, according to Sandra Goeddeke-Richards, horticulture program director
for the Macomb County office of the MSU Extension in Clinton Township.
She
sets her potted bonsai on a platform in her semi-shaded garden pond. The bottoms
of the bonsai pots just touch the water. That keeps them going for several days.
This would also work for large tropical plants in containers.
Put plants
growing in clay pots inside a larger plastic pot to retard moisture loss. No matter
what kind of pot a plant is in, slip it into a larger one. Dampen old T-shirts
or cotton batting and tuck that between the two pots to maintain humidity.
Do-it-yourself
irrigation systems like Mister Landscaper (www.mrlandscaper.com) are available
to water a group of up to eight patio plants. The system attaches to a hose or
faucet. Pricing varies by store but averages about $30 plus $30 for a timer.
Outdoor
beds
Water thoroughly and mulch exposed soil. If you have a drip irrigation
system, run it on a timer.
In-ground systems on timers take care of outdoor
beds as well as lawns.
Vegetable garden
Before Bruce Forrest left
in late July, he gave his vegetable garden a thorough soaking and spread a layer
of grass clippings to conserve soil moisture.
He also harvested anything
that was ready or would be too mature by his return, like 3- to 4-inch squash.
"It's
a little short, but if you come back a week later it might be 35 feet long,"
he says with the wry laugh of a gardener who's been there.
Drip irrigation
systems on timers are a good choice for vegetable gardens because they don't wet
the foliage, which can promote disease.
For tomatoes, which require even
moisture as the fruits develop, cut the top off a gallon milk jug. Use a nail
to puncture several holes in the bottom. Bury all but the top of the jug in the
vicinity of the tomato's roots and fill the container with water, which will slowly
seep out.
Of course, the best time to install this low-tech watering system
without risking root damage is at planting time.
But even now, it's one
way to keep the plants watered until the resident gardener returns to the residence.
