I doubled my water butts from 2 to 4. I'm going to install drip irrigation systems in my 3 biggest beds (for dry periods only, not for regular watering), and I've bought a big pump so I can use my well.
No. I've gardened on very poor draining boggy soil for 7 years. Despite the heat last year the soil stayed moist...albeit slightly deeper. I have bigger issues with wet winters.
Mid to late 30’s is a normal summer for me and I happily grow many of the plants that suffered in the UK and more northerly parts of Europe last year. Much of that, I suspect, is down to the sudden heat shock - such plants haven’t been raised or conditioned to those sort of temperatures.. but they may well bounce back.
I have improved my soil considerably, water deeply but infrequently and mulch heavily and all that helps things grow here that probably shouldn’t but they are acclimatised to my conditions. Drought-tolerant plants still need water of course, some more than I imagined.
However, several drier years overall, last summer’s severe drought and sustained temps in the mid 40’s combined with incredibly drying saharan winds has certainly made me reassess what I can comfortably grow and more to the point, keep irrigated. I abandoned veg growing entirely last year, will be growing less veg this year and some perennials that suffered, like dahlias, heleniums and achillea, are on notice. Established shrubs and roses fared much better, if a bit frazzled around the edges on occasion.
Overall I will be growing more tough flowering herbs and shrubs and less fussy perennials and water-hungry veg.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Mid to late 30’s is a normal summer for me and I happily grow many of the plants that suffered in the UK and more northerly parts of Europe last year. Much of that, I suspect, is down to the sudden heat shock - such plants haven’t been raised or conditioned to those sort of temperatures.. but they may well bounce back.
Absolutely @Nollie. It works the other way too - many plants will acclimatise to long spells of much colder temps once established. Watering properly and mulching are key, but it remains to be seen how many people will be able to change and adapt their gardens accordingly. Some parts of SE England regularly get long dry spells, so people there may find that much easier. A combination of drier autumn/winters as well as spring/summer makes it harder too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It certainly works the other way too @Fairygirl, I agree.
Here, plants can be exposed to searing summer temperatures, long periods of drought, dry winters, monsoon-like rains and high humidity in late spring/ summer, winter temps down to -8c and heavy frosts as late as April. It’s a daily Bear Grylls survival of the fittest challenge for plants!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I reckon it's the swing between extremes that does most damage @Nollie. Many folk will need seriously tough plants for their gardens for future years, but some experimenting is always the way to go too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Oh well, so much for the idea of relying on annuals and not worrying to much about shrubs, etc. I'm being given a load of plants, mostly shrubs, by some lovely people I've just met in exchange for some seeds that are harder to find here (a good swap as far as I'm concerned). They were advertising irises on the equivalent of Gumtree so I went to pick some up and we got talking... an hour later and I had a heap of plants that I'll pick up next week, together with a list as they mostly are unidentifiable at the moment.
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location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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I have bigger issues with wet winters.
I have improved my soil considerably, water deeply but infrequently and mulch heavily and all that helps things grow here that probably shouldn’t but they are acclimatised to my conditions. Drought-tolerant plants still need water of course, some more than I imagined.
However, several drier years overall, last summer’s severe drought and sustained temps in the mid 40’s combined with incredibly drying saharan winds has certainly made me reassess what I can comfortably grow and more to the point, keep irrigated. I abandoned veg growing entirely last year, will be growing less veg this year and some perennials that suffered, like dahlias, heleniums and achillea, are on notice. Established shrubs and roses fared much better, if a bit frazzled around the edges on occasion.
Overall I will be growing more tough flowering herbs and shrubs and less fussy perennials and water-hungry veg.
Watering properly and mulching are key, but it remains to be seen how many people will be able to change and adapt their gardens accordingly. Some parts of SE England regularly get long dry spells, so people there may find that much easier. A combination of drier autumn/winters as well as spring/summer makes it harder too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Here, plants can be exposed to searing summer temperatures, long periods of drought, dry winters, monsoon-like rains and high humidity in late spring/ summer, winter temps down to -8c and heavy frosts as late as April. It’s a daily Bear Grylls survival of the fittest challenge for plants!
Many folk will need seriously tough plants for their gardens for future years, but some experimenting is always the way to go too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Shrub watering here I come.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."