Don't Let Potted Plants Go To Pot While You're Away

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - While you may be ready for a vacation, you don't want your pots of annuals to start looking lazy. So, spend a few minutes the next time you're out watering to reinvigorate them for the rest of the summer.

Do some pinching back and weeding; even if you used pristine, clean potting soil, the birds may have dropped by - which is why I found crab grass and oxalis growing in my windowboxes the other day. Yank out weeds so they stop stealing precious water from your pretty plants.

Along with deadheading, pull out anything that's past its prime. My pansies lasted beyond the 4th of July, but now they're just brown bits. If you have a few holes, you can often poach a plant from one fuller pot to fill up another.

And remember, since potted plants can't get nutrients from the ground they depend on you for food. So top dress with compost if you have it, or add some organic or other fertilizer, to help keep pots flourishing and flowering even while you're on vacation.