How To Take Care Of Your Lawn While On Vacation

Posted on: Jul 07, 2022Luis M Pérez

Schedule Your Lawn’s Watering

First, ensure that all your plant’s trees and shrubs are well established and planted correctly. If you have newly sodded turf or new plants, they will need consistent water while you are away, so you should set your sprinkler system to water at least every other day while you are gone. It is important to ensure that it receives at least two waterings per week for established turf. If you have an underground sprinkler system, this will be easy to program, and if you do not, it’s a good idea to have a neighbor or family member come by the house and do this for you. 

Schedule Your Lawn’s Cutting

As far as cutting is concerned, it is essential to cut the grass every week. Consistent cutting keeps your roots healthy and your grass looking good. If you go two or three weeks without cutting the grass and it grows too tall, when you first cut the grass again, it will cut off too much of the healthy turf and may damage the plant. If you cannot have someone cut the grass for you while you are gone, the next best thing is to cut the grass, just a little bit at a time when you return.

Instead of cutting a full inch to two inches off, start by cutting in half-inch increments for a couple of weeks, then gradually increase back to your normal cutting height. This will allow you to keep the grass healthy while you return to the normal cutting height. Also, if you know you cannot have the grass cut while you are gone, at least cut it the day before you leave and the day you return. 

Remove Leaves and Debris

Before leaving for your vacation, you will also want to remove any leaves or debris from the lawn. Leaves and debris block water from getting to the root system, and they can sometimes get moldy and lead to lawn disease. Furthermore, letting them pile up while you are away is very inconvenient because it creates a bigger job to clean them when you return. 

Want To Learn More? Do You Have Any Questions?

For more information on How To Take Care Of Your Lawn While On Vacation, don’t hesitate to contact our Lawn Care Expert, Luis Perez, via email at luisp@doctorgreen.com.