The first two weeks in August sees a mass exodus of Irish families, happily heading off on holiday and leaving their plants behind at the most stressful time of the year. If you can't call in a neighbourly favour, then vulnerable plants must be prepared for your absence. In the garden, recently planted shrubs and trees should be really well watered and then mulched to conserve moisture. Use dried grass clippings, compost or even sheets of newspaper.
Potted plants (if size allows) can be plunged into a bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising and then placed in a group in a shady, cool corner of the garden. You can also put them into a child's paddling pool with a couple of inches of water in the bottom - and hope that it doesn't rain buckets in your absence!