Distance Gardening – Tending to Two Gardens in Two Countries

I sometimes think my gardens have learned to live without me. In Stockholm, my cottage-like garden with its small veggie patch seems to just know I’ll be back. It grows a little slower when I’m away, perhaps out of politeness. In Spain, my dry garden couldn’t care less – it simply does what it wants, with or without me, and I admire that kind of independence. although Im experimenting with a drop watering system right now as well. We’ll see how it will go.

Distance gardening is not really about control, it’s about trust. I have to trust that the roses in Sweden will still greet me in August, even if a few weeds have thrown a party in my absence. I have to trust that the rosemary and lavender in Spain will survive the heat, because I planted them knowing they could.

Before I leave Sweden in early June, I tuck my veggie garden in like you would a child. I mulch generously, water deeply, and plant things that will forgive me for being away. Parsley, zucchini, pumpkins, carrots, tomatillo and even tomatoes – the stoic kinds. The more tender plants get a little extra care, or they don’t get planted at all.

In Spain, where rain is more of a rumour than a reality, my garden is a mix of natives and hardy Mediterranean plants. It’s a garden you can leave for weeks and still come back to something beautiful, even if that beauty is more about texture and resilience than lush green leaves. Gravel paths, stone walls, and plants that thrive on neglect – these are my allies here.

I used to feel guilty for not being in one place long enough to be the perfect gardener. Now I see it differently. These gardens are like friends you don’t see every day, but when you meet again, it’s as if no time has passed. We simply pick up where we left off.

And so I garden at a distance – a little here, a little there – and in between, I let nature get on with things. Imperfection is part of the plan. It always has been. I like the term ‘slow gardening’ as in to flow with nature and not against it. What grows well in one place I usually let be and accept it.

Timeless Tips for Distance Dry Gardening

• Choose forgiving plants – Perennials, Mediterranean herbs, and drought-tolerant flowers will reward you for your absence. Think lavender, adelphas (Oleander), jasmine, perovskia, thyme, rosemary or hardy leafy greens. Opt for trees that don’t need much water like carob trees, olive tress, almond trees and pine trees. I have a lifelong love story with carob trees so I should probably write a post about them alone. Have to write that one down 🙂
• Mulch like you mean it – A thick layer of mulch keeps soil cool and moist in summer and helps control weeds.
• Use slow-release watering systems – Drip irrigation or terracotta olla pots can keep plants happy for weeks.
• Accept the wild – When you return, embrace the surprises. A little overgrowth can be part of the charm.
• Design for independence – Group plants with similar water needs, and let low-maintenance groundcovers replace thirsty lawns. Like high grass that moves lovely in the wind.