Begin by adding bird houses and a birdbath. Watered well, plants can weather a one-week absence without too much stress. Weave a soaker hose around plants and use a timer with it. For plants with big thirsts, try this 'mini' drip irrigation method. Set a large coffee tin with holes punched in it right beside the plant and fill tin with water.
Water gets right to the roots.
Install an automatic watering system with timer, well worth the investment for long periods of absence. Mulch around plants. Before you leave, water garden well and mulch plants with a few inches of grass clippings, bark chips, cocoa bean hulls or straw to help retain moisture and keep weeds down. Discover the joys of a low-maintenance garden. If you go to the cottage for a month every summer, keep your garden low-maintenance by planting drought tolerant shrubs and perennials.