I’m not sure if the weather statisticians will back me up, but I feel like this summer has been, thus far, officially “a good one”. Perhaps not one that they will be writing about for years to come, like 1976 and 1984, but still, we have enjoyed some lovely sunny and warm weather.
It can be hard to know what an Irish summer will bring to the garden, whether we should be reaching for the watering can or the wellies. One week, the soil can be cracked and parched under an unforgiving sun, and the next, it’s a bog, holding water as though it’s never seen a dry day.
We’re gardening in a time of change and sometimes, extremes and while being Irish, we’ll grumble about it and discuss it at length, the truth is we have to adapt our gardens if we want them to continue to thrive. The good news is that there are practical ways to prepare, so our plants can cope whether it’s drought or a deluge.
Our gardens are living systems, they’re not static works of art, and at the centre of these systems is that most magical of all substances and upon which we all rely, for everything, the soil.
Good quality garden soil is what will allow our gardens to thrive, says Peter Dowdall.
In dry periods, the soil’s ability to retain moisture is what keeps plants alive. In wet spells, it’s the soil’s structure and drainage that stop roots from rotting. Perhaps ironically, the same solution works for both problems: improve the soil by adding organic matter.
When you work in well-rotted compost, garden compost, or leaf mould, you increase the soil’s capacity to hold water during drought while also helping it drain freely when the rains come. It sounds contradictory, but it’s simply about improving the balance between the soil particles and the air spaces between them.
A sandy soil will drain too quickly and lose moisture, and adding organic matter will slow that down. Heavy clay will cling to water like a sponge, and organic matter opens it up, letting excess water escape more easily. This is the foundation of a garden for all climates.
A mulch of bark, compost, or even grass clippings spread around the base of plants helps to retain moisture in dry weather and reduce frost damage in frosty times. In summer droughts, it slows evaporation from the soil surface, giving roots a better chance to find what they need. In downpours, it helps prevent the impact of raindrops from breaking down soil structure and creating a hard crust on the surface. The key is to apply mulch to already moist soil.
Drainage is one of those things we tend to think about only when it’s already a problem and the garden is already a puddle, but planning ahead makes a huge difference. In very wet spots, raising beds slightly or using mounded planting can lift roots just enough to stop them from sitting in waterlogged conditions.
Adding horticultural grit or coarse sand to planting holes for perennials or shrubs that hate wet feet can prevent rot. It’s also worth checking that pots and containers aren’t sitting in trays of stagnant water after heavy rain.
Choosing the right plants is another big part of the puzzle. In the past, many of us chose plants purely for their beauty, but now we need to think about how they’ll stand up to these shifting conditions. Mediterranean plants, such as lavender, rosemary, and cistus will shrug off dry spells, but they’ll sulk or die if left in wet ground over winter.
Cistus pulverulentus ‘Sunset’, a summer-flowering evergreen shrub. File picture
On the other hand, moisture-loving plants such as astilbe or hosta will thrive in wetter spots but won’t tolerate prolonged drought without extra care. The trick is to plant according to the different conditions in your garden. That sunny, south-facing slope might be the perfect place for drought-tolerant species, while the shadier, damper corner could become a haven for bog plants or ferns. It’s about working with your site, not against it.
Water management is something that we all need to be aware of in our gardens. Collecting rainwater in barrels or tanks from your roof means you have a reserve ready for dry periods. Rainwater is also better for plants than tap water, particularly for acid-lovers like camellias and rhododendrons. In dry spells, watering deeply but less often encourages roots to grow downwards rather than staying near the surface.
In wet weather, your focus shifts to ensuring excess water can move away freely, whether that’s through drainage channels, permeable surfaces, or even a pond to act as a collection point, which also brings the bonus of supporting wildlife and reducing pressure on our drainage systems during periods of excessive rain and flood risk.
Garden wildlife too face their own challenges in our erratic climate. During droughts, birds, insects, and hedgehogs can struggle to find enough water, so a shallow dish or birdbath, topped up regularly, can be a lifesaver. In wet spells, having dense shrubs or evergreen cover shelters them from driving rain. The more diversity you have in your planting, the more stable your garden’s ecosystem becomes.
Climate unpredictability doesn’t just mean more extreme weather; it can also throw seasonal patterns out of sync. Plants may flower earlier or later than expected, pests may appear at different times, and frost dates can shift. Keeping a gardening diary, even just a few notes in your phone, helps you notice these changes over time. This means you can start sowing, planting, or protecting your crops and flowers based on what’s actually happening in your garden, not just what the old rules say should happen.
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