I understand what you mean @Lyn but for years now in the South East, we have had periods of 2-3 months with virtually no rain. This usually happens in Spring, and means we have had to water the garden much earlier in the year than normal. We have also had very warm/hot days on a regular basis, without it being declared a heatwave. On New Year's Day it was 14c and we could have worn t-shirts outside. Our pots were all being watered regularly in Jan and Feb. It's a year-long problem, not just short heatwave periods in Summer.
The pattern of direction is clear, so we would rather take drastic action now, than have to go through a repeat of this Summer, and previous Spring's. We are metered for our water, so another reason to limit our usage.
The topography of our garden doesn't help. Our top terrace is 2-3 metres above the patio level, so any ground water drains down to the lower terrace, and then the patio. Our main flower beds are on the top terrace, so gravity is winning.
I'm excited to see redesign things, so that they still look interesting, but with much less watering and maintenance. I'm curious to see how the other gardeners in the South East are responding to similar conditions.
I have a similar issue with a sloping garden that’s south west facing plus clay soil. It’s literally now baked!
I’m fully perennials in three large beds but thankfully planted out some drought tolerant stuff start of the year like Stachys, Aster and Sedums that have held up well. The Veronicastrum have been a battle this year and flowering season finished very early.
I’m not going quite so drastic but will be swapping out that which doesn’t survive as do think this pattern of weather is sadly here to stay
I'll be rearranging some of the borders and taking out some plants like Helianthus lemon queen I like the plant but it is a bit thuggish I'll move a acontium into its place , Phyocarpous diablo will probably be removed its just to big for the border , I do have some Lady in red cutting on the go but I can't stop thinking of an Irish yew I want more bones to the garden for winter .
More of the same around the garden I get fed up with some plants so out they come. I do have some plants on my to buy list - Amsonia ernst pagels - Actaea Queen of Sheba ( still thinking on that one ) - pteridiphylum and some more plants for my guerrillia gardening Bog area like primula candelbra which refuse to germinate .
I've decided not to lug the cannas and other tender plants into the greenhouse this winter. If they survive then that's ok, if they don't then that's ok too. I will also be planting more bulbs. Everything in my garden is OK and not struggling, yet! Will just have to wait and see what happens for the rest of the year.
I'll be doing garden-adjacent projects - fixing some drainage issues, replacing porch steps (rotting from said drainage issues), building a larger composting area, adding water butts, building obelisks. Maybe actually plan out some flower beds instead of just taking whatever's on the half price cemetery rack at the local big box store.
In the same spirit I left out all Dahlias. All survived winter (it was a mild one like the ones you get in England) and they are all fine. Even so they want too much water for what I get out of them, they may well come out.
I am very behind with biennial seeds... have got far too absorbed in roses this year, to the expense of all else.
Rain today... the first in a very long time! It makes me hopeful I can soon get out and plant out Heritage, Rose des Cisterciens and the Albrighton Rambler- the rock-hard ground has hitherto prevented it.
And I want more dahlias and more bulbs of every type!
Posts
More of the same around the garden I get fed up with some plants so out they come. I do have some plants on my to buy list - Amsonia ernst pagels - Actaea Queen of Sheba ( still thinking on that one ) - pteridiphylum and some more plants for my guerrillia gardening Bog area like primula candelbra which refuse to germinate .
In the same spirit I left out all Dahlias. All survived winter (it was a mild one like the ones you get in England) and they are all fine. Even so they want too much water for what I get out of them, they may well come out.
Luxembourg
Rain today... the first in a very long time! It makes me hopeful I can soon get out and plant out Heritage, Rose des Cisterciens and the Albrighton Rambler- the rock-hard ground has hitherto prevented it.
And I want more dahlias and more bulbs of every type!