Put the watering on a timer
The most important job is water. An irrigation controller with a good schedule keeps plants alive while you are away. Check that the system works before you leave, and ask someone to check it again during your absence.
A battery backup or a simple way for someone to switch it on and off if there is a power cut is worth thinking about. A system that has stopped quietly is the usual reason a garden fails in summer.
Arrange regular visits
In the growing season, a garden needs attention every few weeks. Lawns need mowing, hedges need trimming and weeds spread quickly. A regular maintenance visit is much cheaper than rescuing a garden that has been left for a season.
Agree in writing what each visit includes and how often it happens. Ask how you will be told if something is wrong.
Keep dry growth away from the house
In summer, dry grass, fallen leaves and dead branches are a fire risk in Cyprus. Keep dry vegetation cleared from around the building, walls and fences, trim overhanging branches and do not store firewood or rubbish against the house.
Follow local rules on burning, which are strict in the dry season. Take garden waste away instead of burning it.
Prepare for the end of summer and for winter
Before the autumn rains, clear gutters and drains, check that the paths and steps are safe and trim trees that could drop branches in a storm. Winter storms can bring down weak limbs.
Autumn is also a good moment to plant, overseed the lawn and mulch, so the garden is ready for the next season.
A short checklist before you leave
Check the irrigation timer, trim hedges and trees, mow the lawn, clear dry leaves and debris, mulch the beds, secure loose pots and furniture and make sure someone has the key and your contact details.
Then arrive to a garden that has been looked after, not one that has to be rescued.
