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.”
Learn more about the Husqvarna Automower™ and their full range of outdoor power
tools at www.husqvarna.co.za
ENDS
WORD COUNT: 698
Press Release Disseminated on Behalf of:
Timothy Isabirye
Marketing Manager – Husqvarna South Africa
About Husqvarna
Husqvarna, a brand within Husqvarna Group, is a market leader in innovative and high-
quality products and services for shaping green spaces in parks, forests and gardens. Since
1689, Swedish-born Husqvarna has a strong focus on research and development and is a
pioneer in robotic lawn mowers and chainsaws. Today, the product portfolio consists of the
next generation of robotic mowers, riders, chainsaws and trimmers for professional as well
as private use. Sustainable value creation, product innovation and digitalisation remain
important for the journey ahead. Husqvarna products are sold in more than 100 countries.
Husqvarna Group, which also includes Gardena and Husqvarna Construction, has 13,300
employees in 40 countries around the world and net sales in 2024 amounted to SEK 48,4
billion. Husqvarna Group is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.