How to set your garden on autopilot during your December getaway

You’ve had a wonderful festive season, and the thought of returning to reality – and the dreaded post-holiday low – can be daunting. The last thing you want is to come home to a proverbial jungle where your pride and joy used to be.

Let’s face it, December is a busy time, and gardening often goes into a holding pattern at the bottom of the to-do list when you’re getting ready to go away. Truth is, though, December is also when your garden needs more attention as the summer heat encourages rapid growth.

“Taking a holiday shouldn’t mean coming back to an overgrown garden,” says Allan Herbert, Service Training Manager at Husqvarna. “With a little planning and some preparation, you can help your garden cope on its own while you’re away.”

He shares his top tips on how to get it holiday-ready:

Lawn care

To keep your lawn looking perfectly manicured, especially when you’re away, a robotic lawn mower like the Husqvarna Automower™ is a smart investment. These devices work autonomously, rain or shine, on programmable schedules to maintain a consistent height. Modern models handle slopes, navigate obstacles, and return to their charging stations on their own. With GPS tracking and full connectivity, you can monitor and adjust settings remotely – whether you’re sitting on a beach or hiking in the mountains.

But while a robotic lawn mower may not be in everyone’s budget, you can still prep your lawn to cope before you leave. Mow it to the right height for your grass type – generally around 6-8 cm for most warm-season grasses. Leaving it slightly taller helps shade the soil and retain moisture. Apply a slow-release fertiliser to gradually feed your lawn 2–3 days before you leave, then water your lawn thoroughly to prevent fertiliser burn. With that done, being away for a couple of weeks without mowing isn’t likely to result in major overgrowth, especially if it has been well-maintained beforehand.

Irrigation management

Installing an automated irrigation system with a timer is another smart investment for any gardener. Drip irrigation systems are particularly efficient, delivering water directly to plant roots while minimising evaporation. Set the timer for early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler. For a two-week December absence, consider watering every 2-3 days.

Even without a full irrigation system, you can attach basic hose timers to outdoor taps. These affordable devices allow you to schedule watering for specific durations and frequencies. Connect them to soaker hoses or sprinklers strategically positioned around your garden beds.

For container plants and smaller garden areas, consider self-watering globes, spikes or create simple self-watering solutions using plastic bottles: drill small holes in the cap, fill with water, and insert upside-down into the soil near plant roots.

Garden preparation tasks

Loosen compacted soil around beds and trees with a fork or spade to boost water flow and root access – especially helpful in hot, dry weather.
Mulch generously (5-10cm) to lock in moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds.
Prune and weed thoroughly – cut back overgrown plants, prune dead and diseased branches and remove existing weeds to eliminate competition for water and nutrients. It will also reduce maintenance on your return.
Deadhead flowers to tidy up and encourage continued blooming.
Protect sensitive plants from the heat with shade cloth.
Group containers in semi-shade to boost humidity; nest small pots in damp compost for insulation.
Harvest ripe produce to prevent pests and spoilage.
Clear debris like fallen leaves and rotting fruit to reduce disease risk.
Apply pest deterrents to vulnerable plants.

Do a general tidy up – clearing leaves from patios and pathways and trimming back fast-growing edges. A quick once-over with a battery-powered blower or trimmer can tidy things up in minutes with very little effort.

“Your garden should be a place you look forward to coming home to,” says Herbert. “The key is preparation – the time you invest before leaving will enable your garden to look after itself – and reward you with a healthy, cared-for look upon your return.”

ALSO SEE: NOVEMBER’S GARDEN TO-DO LIST