Leaving the garden behind

Maggie Wolf attaches a battery-powered timer to drip lines in herb pots. (Courtesy of Maggie Wolf)

Summer vacation: a time to relax, see new things, and relate more closely to family. But many gardeners leave home worrying about their beloved fruit, flowers and vegetables. Coming home to an overgrown, weedy or drought-stressed landscape can bring a screeching halt to family harmony, even after the most relaxing vacation.

Use the following checklists to help prepare your garden and lawn for your time away:

Vegetable and flower gardens

» Install an automatic irrigation system. Allow one or two weeks' trial period for adjusting the system before you depart.

» Pull all weeds.

» Apply 3 to 4 inches organic mulch over bare soil in garden areas.

To prepare for vacation, automatic drip irrigation systems can be assembled to fit a container, and the watering schedule adjusted to fit the plants needs. (Courtesy of Maggie Wolf)

» Pull out and dispose of diseased or "done" plants.

» Deadhead spent flowers.

» If you'll be gone longer than five days, arrange for someone to pick produce, pull weeds and water or monitor the automatic irrigation system.

Lawns

» Avoid fertilizing for up to three weeks before departure.

» Mow with deck set high. Taller grass grows deeper roots.

» Irrigate deeply but less frequently; wet the soil eight to 10 inches to encourage deep roots.

» Adjust automatic sprinkler timers to accommodate upcoming weather forecasts.

» Pull weeds.

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» If you'll be gone longer than one week, hire someone to mow and, if you don't have automatic sprinklers, irrigate.

Next, consider enhancing your vacation by visiting public gardens and farmers' markets along the way or near your destination. You may discover some handy gardening tips or learn about a new type of plant to try in your own garden or landscape.

Garden vacation destinations

Here are a few garden sights to visit to nearby and popular vacation destinations, as well as links to more information:

Las Vegas

The Arboretum at University of Nevada-Las Vegas » A campus-wide display of native and adapted desert plants; hrc.nevada.edu/arboretum.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens » Three-acres of gardens focusing on cacti, succulents and desert plants, located about four miles east of the McCarran airport; www.ethelschocolates.com.

Las Vegas farmers' markets » Three locations are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m.; www.lasvegasfarmersmarket.com.

Denver

Denver Botanical Gardens » An impressive collection and display of native and adapted plant species, as well as a large conservatory, green roof and educational displays; www.botanicgardens.org.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Public Rose Garden » The country's only public rose garden planted at a jail and maintained by inmates; www.co.jefferson.co.us/sheriff/sheriff_T62_R51.htm.

Colorado Fresh Market » Five locations in the Denver area, featuring Colorado- grown produce or locally made products; www.coloradofreshmarkets.com.

San Francisco

San Francisco Botanical Gardens » Featuring plants from around the world; www.sfbotanicalgarden.org.

Golden Gate Park's Conservatory of Flowers » Featuring palms, nepenthes (carnivorous pitcher plants), cycads and more. www.conservatoryofflowers.org.

Florida

Orlando's Harry P. Leu Gardens » Zone 9b plants on 50 acres, including camellias, cycads, bromeliads and a butterfly garden; www.leugardens.org.

Miami's Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden » Tropical plants on 83 acres, including rare species; www.fairchildgarden.org.

Maggie Wolf , a certified professional horticulturist, gardens and consults in the Salt Lake City area.