7 Essential Activities to Complete for Your Landscape Before You Leave on Vacation

A well-planned getaway is something we all look forward to whether it’s a week on the coast or a long weekend with family. But while you’re out relaxing, your landscape still needs attention. Coming home to dead plants, fried turf, or a water-soaked disaster from a broken sprinkler can quickly erase your post-trip glow.

The good news? With a few simple steps, you can set your yard up for success, so it looks just as good (or even better) when you return. Here are seven essential things to do for your landscape before you leave for vacation.

1. Do a deep watering before you go

One of the best insurance policies for your lawn and garden is giving everything a thorough soak right before you leave. Watering encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, which helps plants withstand short-term heat and stress better than frequent, shallow watering.

If you have newly planted trees or particularly vulnerable shrubs, consider setting a hose on a slow trickle for 30-60 minutes to saturate the root zone thoroughly. This small effort can make a big difference, especially if hot weather rolls in while you’re away.

2. Inspect your irrigation system

Nothing ruins a vacation quite like getting a call from a neighbor saying water is running down your driveway—or coming home to scorched turf because a zone never turned on.

Before you leave:

• Run through each irrigation zone manually.
• Check for clogged, broken, or misaligned heads.
• Look for soggy spots or leaks.
• Ensure drip emitters are functioning correctly and not clogged.

If you have a smart controller, verify that it’s receiving weather updates and that rain shutoff sensors or soil moisture sensors are connected and functioning correctly. It takes just a few minutes, but it gives you peace of mind.

3. Adjust your watering schedule

If you’re only gone for a long weekend, your usual schedule is probably fine. But if you’ll be away for a week or more, consider making minor adjustments.

• Reduce watering frequency if cooler weather is expected.
• Increase slightly if a heat wave is on the horizon.

Many modern controllers allow you to set a seasonal adjustment percentage. Bumping it up or down by 10-20% can be a safer strategy than changing runtimes on each zone. And if you have a smart controller that adjusts automatically based on evapotranspiration (ET), double-check that it’s set to run in auto mode.

4. Mow and prune before you go

Give your lawn a fresh cut before you leave, but avoid scalping it. Cutting more than one-third of the grass blade can stress your turf and reduce its drought tolerance. If you’re going to be away for more than 10 days, consider increasing the rate slightly higher than usual to provide more shade to the soil.

Also, take a quick walk around your yard with pruning shears to remove dead or diseased branches. This can help prevent problems from worsening while you’re gone and keeps plants looking tidy.

5. Mulch, mulch, mulch

A fresh layer of mulch around flower beds, trees, and shrubs is one of the best defenses against water loss. It helps maintain soil moisture, regulates temperature, and even suppresses weeds that could take over while you’re away.

Try to place 2-3 inches of mulch around plants but be careful not to pile it up against trunks or stems, as this can cause rot.

6. Enlist a neighbor or friend

Even with the best planning, unexpected issues can pop up. Having a neighbor or friend keep an eye on things is invaluable—especially if you’ll be gone more than a week.

Ask them to do a quick walk around your property every few days. They can check for:

• Broken sprinkler heads gushing water
• Drooping plants or browning areas
• Signs of pests or diseases that might need quick attention

Leave them your contact information and the number of a local nursery or lawn care company, just in case.

7. Take advantage of technology

If you travel frequently, it might be time to invest in a smart irrigation controller that automatically adjusts watering based on local weather data and your landscape’s needs. These systems can reduce water use by 20-50% and help keep your plants healthy even when you’re not home.

Many smart controllers also have apps that let you monitor your system and receive alerts about leaks, faulty valves, or weather changes so you can make adjustments from your phone while relaxing on the beach.

Return home to a beautiful landscape

A little preparation before your vacation can save you from big headaches (and costly replacements) later. By watering deeply, inspecting your irrigation, freshening up mulch, and tapping into technology or friendly help, you’ll come home to a yard that’s thriving—not struggling to survive.

And that means one less thing to worry about—so you can focus on planning your next adventure.