Identify the plants that need help
Walk around the garden and mark containers exposed to full sun, shallow planters and recently planted crops. Their water needs can be very different from those of established shrubs or large trees. Note where the hose or watering can is stored and whether each pot has a drainage hole. Rather than inventing one interval for the entire garden, group plants by how quickly their root zones dry out.
Write a short, testable instruction
For each group list the location, a moisture-check method, the approximate amount of water if needed and one important warning. A finger or wooden stick inserted into the growing medium can help judge a pot, but remember that its surface may dry before the deeper roots do. Water slowly so the moisture reaches the root zone and excess water can escape. Do not let sensitive herbs stand in a permanently filled saucer.
Check the system before leaving
Do a trial round with the person who will help. Demonstrate where to turn the water on and off and how to recognise a pot that has already had enough rain. If you use an irrigation timer, test it in advance and check for leaks, blocked drippers and unsafe electrical connections. Avoid connecting an unfamiliar system immediately before departure and assuming it will work reliably for weeks.
Leave a sensible backup
Write down a contact number and a simple note describing what to do after severe heat, heavy rain or a failed timer. Keep the checklist short enough to use on a phone or on one printed sheet. On your return, inspect the pots before resuming a normal schedule: plants that have stayed wet should not receive extra water merely because the plan says it is watering day.
Continue with the seasonal calendar or browse the plant directory before adapting the steps to local conditions.