IT has been a very dry summer, with May 2023 being one of the driest on record, and even a few days of hefty rain will have little impact on the aridity of the soil.
At the time of writing, another summer of drought is very much on the cards, and if this becomes a trend then we will need to rethink how we garden and what plants we grow.
Where I live we have thin chalky soil that drains quickly even in the wettest weather and so far, this summer has turned the garden into a dust bowl.
Clay soil won’t fare any better, become cracked and solid
The easiest way to garden in extreme conditions is to choose plants that thrive in those situations.
Drought-resistant plants include many with silvery leaves, such as Stachys (lambs ear), lavender and Sinecio cineraria and Senecio ‘Angel Wings’, plus sea holly, many ornamental grasses and palms, verbena varieties, poppies and succulents.
Experts at horticultural charity Garden Organic ( gardengorganic.co.uk) are worried about the effect this developing trend will have, not just on our gardens and how we grow, but also on food production across the country.
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Denne historien er fra July 22, 2023-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters