We are not, I think, imagining it.
A week of heat in the high 30s, with talk of 40 to come, would once have been remarkable. Now it feels less like an exception and more like a sign of things settling into a new pattern. And the garden, as ever, is one of the first places you notice it.
Lawns that would usually carry on well into July have already begun to fade. Plants that have been reliable for years suddenly look strained, while others, previously considered a little tender, are getting on perfectly well. It would be easy to treat this as a one-off and carry on as before … but I’m not sure that’s sensible any longer.
How, where and what
The first adjustment is water, and how we use it. A light sprinkle in the evening that barely reaches the roots simply encourages plants to keep their roots shallow (and vulnerable to drought). Far better to water deeply, less often, and preferably early in the morning or late in the day when it has a chance to soak in rather than evaporate. A mulch of compost or bark around plants makes an immediate difference, too, keeping moisture where it’s needed and reducing the need to water at all.
Shade is also becoming just as important as sunshine. We have spent years placing plants in the brightest spot available, but there is now a case for thinking more carefully about shelter. A fence, a hedge, or even the dappled cover of a small tree, can protect more delicate plants from the worst of the afternoon heat.
Changing climate also means being slightly more selective about what we grow. Some traditional favourites will struggle if these conditions continue. That doesn’t mean abandoning the English garden altogether, but it does suggest a shift. Plants such as lavender, rosemary and thyme are already well suited to dry conditions, as are salvias, nepeta and many ornamental grasses. Mediterranean herbs and sun-loving perennials are no longer occasional additions – they are becoming the backbone.
At the same time, it is worth holding on to a sense of balance. Not everything needs to become gravel and drought planting. There is still a place for softness … roses, foxgloves, hydrangeas … but they may need more thoughtful positioning, better soil preparation and a little more care in prolonged dry spells.
Notice and adapt
One of the more useful changes is simply to do less. Leaving the grass slightly longer helps it withstand heat. Allowing some areas to grow on reduces stress on both the plants and the gardener. There is a tendency, particularly in smaller gardens, to keep everything neat and controlled, but in these conditions, a little looseness is not neglect, it is protection.
There is also, perhaps, a shift in expectation. Gardens have always reflected the climate they sit in, even if we have tried to push against it. What we are seeing now is a gentle, or perhaps not so gentle, nudge to work with it instead.
None of this requires a complete redesign. It is a matter of small, steady adjustments: – how we water, what we plant, where we place things and how much we interfere. The English garden is not disappearing, but it is evolving. And, as with most things in the garden, it is better to notice early and adapt quietly than to fight and lose.
by MAGGIE FIELDS
