Foolproof Tips For Thriving Summer Gardens

For the serious gardener, summer travel plans pose a complicated choice. The summer heat and rain can be great for the growing season, but, left unattended, many of us are all too familiar with the way these weather extremes can kill the plants we’ve cared for. On the other hand, what are you supposed to do? Stay home all summer and never travel just to take care of your plant babies?

Amy Dabbs, Extension Horticulturist at Clemson University, has a clever suggestion for saving your potted plants in the summer months.

To begin with, not every plant needs to be fussed over.

“On house plants, they should be fine for, you know, 1 to 2 weeks or up to a month, depending on what the plant is,” she says.

In the outdoors, though, long stretches of summer heat can dry out and wither plants in containers.

Dabbs says, “The other thing that vacationers or travelers that are going to be away might consider doing, especially with outdoor container gardens: Buy a very inexpensive kiddy pool and put them all in one place and then fill that with water and so they can bottom water.”

Putting potted plants in a kiddie pool works the same way as any saucer does under potted plants, holding excess water until the plant is ready to use it.

“The roots in the bottom of the pot will take up that water,” Dobbs says.

Of course, the best way to care for plants while you’re gone is to simply have a friend come over and water them for you. If that’s the case, a kiddie pool is also a way to make their job a little easier.

“If you do have someone checking on your home, they can just fill that back up. Or if it does rain, it will just capture some water. It's not ideal to keep plants there all summer, but it'll do to keep things going while you're away.”

Weather.com copy writer Wyatt Williams is exploring the relationship between weather, food, agriculture, and the natural world.

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