After a record-breaking heat wave and one of the longest droughts in the UK’s history, many gardens are struggling. Plants have died – or seem to have died. But some have pulled through and I’ve got some good coping strategies and tips for you.
00:00 Welcome
01:10 Temperatures in the heatwave topped 40C/104F
01:33 Plants in shade suffer less from heat and drought – love your shady borders!
01:38 Size, dimensions and layout of the Middlesized Garden
01:52 The north-facing shady border
02:26 The south-facing sunny border – all the plants have suffered
02:55 The plants that have done well in the heat and drought
03:25 Video: 5 resilient flowers that will thrive in difficult summers: https://youtu.be/QNcNqjdk6ZU
03:54 Should you water newly planted shrubs and perennials in their first summer or does this make them too water dependent?
04:15 How to create a beautiful perennial border (video) with Tom Brown: https://youtu.be/SQRTVeCLHmE
04:34 Video: How to create a dry garden (gravel garden) with the Beth Chatto gardens: https://youtu.be/uIF2hpMC3ZI
05:02 Fertilise roses in spring to help them withstand heat and drought, but don’t fertilise plants in a drought or heatwave
05:28 Vitax Organic Rose Food (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3PvrzOl
05:37 Verbena bonariensis – another resilient plant
06:08 Dying persicaria
06:14 Video – what to do about dying plants with Borde Hill Gardens: https://youtu.be/tMvTOGXwE7s
06:25 My persicaria after 3 weeks watering, but not cut back
06:40 How to deal with frost damaged shrubs with Doddington Place Gardens:https://youtu.be/qztajrla4aU
07:04 The Horti-Culturalists YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVP0JO-cSUUScAkI3YXpKRA
07:37 Video: How to Group Pots with Dan Cooper Garden: https://youtu.be/yfnzPsEWuIE
09:04 Water-saving tips tried out
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43 Comments
So much to respond to, but I would limit my first thoughts to the ending, that you should sit and enjoy in the shade. I have drought in N.E. usa, so what I did here was, dug out the pretty things I planted last and returned them to my deck, where I can keep them watered, initially I thought they might go back in, but I am enjoying being surrounded by containers, and I can keep them watered, unlike the ground. I would just suggest, that you write down the plants that are doing ok, like the rose and the verbena, and plant them together next year…and that will probably bring on the rain. Also, plant more of what you like in the shade, if you think they will ban watering again. And, get on the town council and figure out, why they don't have enough water to ensure good gardens. There is so much water to capture, they should be earning their paycheck figuring it out, not blaming the gardeners. My own town, has doubled in size since I moved here 30 years ago, and has done little to increase water capacity. We used to just water more when it was 100 degrees. If you want to see that gardening is possible at 100 degrees or more, look for Laura on Garden Answer, a video here on Youtube. We can build a dry cactus filled desert, or green the earth, it just takes water management.
Very helpful, thank you 😊
We thankfully don't have a hosepipe ban here in South Norfolk. Which is fortunate, as we have had NO RAIN this year. All lawns are just yellow straw. I definitely think we shouldn't be watering lawns. As you said though, it's hard for the polinators without the flowers, so I have been watering my borders. But I did install an irrigation system a couple of years ago, knowing how dry this part of the country is. So the drip irrigation is very efficient, especially as I've covered over the drip pipes with mulch. So I don't feel like any water is being wasted at least.
But even so, some trees are struggling! I have an evergreen that has been there for over 10 years I would guess? It's one of the few plants that was in the garden when we bought this house, but it's doing really badly. I have put the hosepipe under that tree and just let it trickle for hours in an attempt to save the tree. Again, I think it's a good use of water as the birds nest in that tree! Everyone has cut down the hedges and replaced them with fencing near me (as the hedges were coming to the end of their life in this estate and no one wanted to loose privacy by planting a hedge from scratch). But that leaves no nesting places for the birds. And with everyone's evergreens dying in this heat… :/ I think we need to allow some watering of gardens to happen!
I think I will turn to gravel gardening.😭😭😭
13:11 .."flowered it's socks off." 😂 … now that's a MSG endorsement 👌🏻love your channel Alexander 🙏🏻 thank you
Great information, as always. About not cutting back dead/dying foliage from heat stressed plants, I would also add that the foliage is protecting the live parts of the plant below, giving it some shade, and also holding in whatever moisture might be there. Cutting it back takes away all that lovely protection.
Awsome advice in closing! Our summer has been never-ending heat waves in Canada…pretty much everywhere. 👍😎🇨🇦🌾🌲
So rare for my area NOT to temps over 100+ F in the summer. I'm sorry it's been such a problem for you all this year. That level of heat is difficult if you aren't used to it. Straw mulch really helps. And so do ollas. https://youtu.be/f_Yo8SrHTjU
Amazing video 🙂 Truly is soothing, relaxing, and educating. I have learnt a lot from giving this a chance, and I am so glad. Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video with us, 🙂 It really is special and inspiring to get into my own gardening as a way to battle and get better at handling the stressful life I got myself into. Finding the way to the roots of ourselves. Thank you again and wishing you the best 🙂
it's been a rough summer here in Nova Scotia as well. So hard on the gardens, and we have to ration water since we run out quite easily. Getting married in our yard this coming weekend; thankfully a little rain today….. hoping it's enough to help.
Love your advice about siittting and enjoying the garden . I live in. Ireland and my flowers are rubbish this year but am ok with that . Weeds still manage to grow abundantly. Roses are splendid. Hostas look sooo miserable. But my beautiful hydrangeas are lifting the spirits. THANK you so much for sharing your garden with us . A delight as always.
Great video. I live in Colorado and we have been living in drought conditions for years. Your advice was spot on. Thanks for sharing with everyone trying to navigate serious drought for the first time.
Very good tips, not to cut back. I’ve lost a lupin and a shrub, the shrub I will give the benefit of doubt until next spring. My hydrangea paniculatas have smaller flowers this year but look to have survived with minimal watering. My lavender is going brown too. I’m leaving the grass to do it’s own thing. 👍🏻
I am in zone 8, Oregon US west coast. We had a wonderful wet long spring and now it is very hot, 100 – 110 degrees fahrenheit. My garden is pretty fried. I am rethinking what I can plant that will survive the climate change. Probably move towards Mediterranean plantings. Everything is on a drip line, but surviving the sun is difficult for plants wanting a more temperate summer. I do have a shade cloth over my vegetable beds. Which has helped immensely and getting quite a bit of fresh produce.
No hose ban where I am, we have our own well but even still, with nothing more than a light shower every few weeks the whole countryside here in Co Limerick is looking frazzeled. I'm worried about the trees. My garden is surviving but there is no real growth. Fingers crossed this isn't going to be every year.
Thank you for this. It has alleviated some of my anxiety about my crispy garden.
Taking a breather when you’ve done your best in spite of circumstances, but your garden is far from perfect, is wise. Two years ago there was a tornado in my neighborhood. For a while, I couldn’t even get to some of my garden spots because of obstacles from uprooted oaks, maples, tulip poplars, and sweet gum trees. Some of the trees still standing were even more dangerous with hanging limbs. I was extra thankful my patio garden was untouched, but I couldn’t take my accustomed walks. It took time for the trees to be cleared away and most of the stumps were ground leaving gaping holes and huge piles of wood chips. I asked the Home Owner’s Association for a wheelbarrow. Just a few weeks ago we made a then and now video to show the difference. “After the Tornado, the Neighborhood Gardens.”
We had a shockingly long and hot summer here in Perth Western Australia last year, I was amazed and so pleased at how well the blue salvias thrived. Will definitely be adding more this spring in readiness for what I'm sure will be an equally hot summer this year. Love your garden 🌻
Here on the East Coast in the US ,we actually had a very cool spring and it stayed comfortable until July.Then we had some real scorching weather. But here at the beach we have usually been at least 10 to 15 degrees cooler than inland.But we are under water restrictions. I dont have a lawn so don't need to water that .I was able to water everything with my watering pail.Put some things in the shade when it was really hot.Have a lot of drought tolerant plants.Lets hope next summer is not so tough.
Thank you! I'm visiting from California and helping to revive a relative's overgrown garden. I'm finding that in the heat and drought the blackberry bramble and the buddleia are doing a bit too well and have taken over. I have heard many negative comments about these plants, but I'm seeing that if kept under control, the blackberry provides food for humans and pollinators and that the buddleia can provide shade for us as well as attract pollinators. I know that in Californian weather, any amount of shade can help with regulating the temperature and sustain moisture in the garden. My experience in the UK so far has been a hard sell for establishing lawns and to cut down trees. I'm not convinced that this way of thinking is sustainable here anymore.
This was fun to watch! I am in the US, zone 7, and we have had very little rain, except a stretch of two much rain for a couple of weeks! and we have also had periods of high heat (100 F) My two garden areas have definitely suffered! The herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon balm) have done fine — I DO water esp. the lemon balm needs it. The daylilies are half the size they were! and their bloom season ended early. The hydrangea has suffered. I lost the spring anyway due to an injury, but I do continue to enjoy the garden even though it looks fairly unkempt. The birds are loving the seeds.
Lovely video with a very lovely and important tip at the end! ;-). Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Older houses is Aust have plumbing from shower and basin on outside of house with a removable joining cap halfway down
We insert a diverter bit like a funnel with hose attachment and plug onto hose to move around the garden
Hello
Do you think you could give me some advice about Hellebores at this time of year
I simply adore your videos I think you are most helpful
Sincerely
Barbra U K
I’m back after a 3 week holiday. I set up a watering system for my pots and they’re not too bad. The borders are awful. A 3 year old hydrangea petiolaris, planted against a north facing fence looks dead, as does a 2 year old hydrangea limelight – both in shade. A newish Annabel which I watered and mulched before leaving also looks dead. Following your advice I’m leaving them to see what happens. We’ve actually had rain overnight and this morning in Bedford so fingers crossed. Cotinus, Osmanthus, Viburnum, Fuschia verbena Bon and roses are ok. Thank you for the honest look and advice.
Like your tip about saving water in the shower. I already save the water that once ran down the kitchen sink waiting for the hot water to arrive.
Thankyou Alexandra for, as usual, a very helpful video. Here in the north of Scotland we haven’t suffered anything like as badly as you but my main border needs a general overhaul so I’ll be planting more drought tolerant plants just in case.
Thanks for all your precious advices, Alexandra. I fell in love with the white plant seen at minute 2.04 of your video, to the left of the screen. What is it?
I love your conclusion! As Cicero used to say: if you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
In my garden in Burgundy lavenders and roses did very well. The other plants haven't suffered too much, thanks to the huge amount of mulch wisely spread in spring. We have also spared water in buckets any time we wash vegetables or rinse plates and pans. Merci pour tous vos conseils!
Yes enjoy what flowers you have. Here in Michigan USA we've had drought too though not as extreme as some areas. We've used plastic one-gallon milk jugs filled with water and pucture it at the bottom to water the precious plants.
Wonderful Advice!
Helpful advice about not grooming plants that are stressed. I’m so tempted to trim off the brown crispy bits so it’s good to know to leave them alone. I’m in zone 8b, and after last summer’s record breaking heat wave, I’ve put up shade cloth to avoid baking shrubs in their first few seasons getting established. It doesn’t look pretty, but they are weathering this summer’s drought better. Although the nurseries have beautiful specimens in peak bloom in July and August, I’ve learned the hard way it’s not the best time to plant. I had better luck this year ordering online in the spring and planting during dormancy. Thank you for sharing your garden’s struggles this year. We can all sympathsize!
I love your tip on how to enjoy your garden. I like a bit of shade and sometimes full on sun! My lawn has done ok, my hydrangeas are toast.
My tomatoes, beetroot and chilli are doing really well. I have over 30 tomatoes growing on the vine so far and I must have at least the same amount of chilli’s too. I have 3 beetroot’s growing I can’t wait to taste them!!
Thank you. So helpful.
If you have the money, you can try installing a localised water system in your house. It's basically just a water tower that you can stick in one part of your garden to catch water for you when water bans occur.
Hi Alexandra, I enjoy your channel very much! I live in Southeast Texas, US and we had a severe drought in June and July, and only now we are making up the deficit with some tropical rains. Luckily, so far no tropical storms!
I have a pollinator garden in my backyard that I have been converting to mostly natives, along and along. The durantas, Turk’s cap and lantanas are stalwarts. My porter weed, which is loved by bees and butterflies is only now just beginning to bloom-this was very surprising because it’s usually a star bloomer. The cone flower and salvia blue spires seem to need too much pampering so they may have to be phased out.
I tried Texas/Oklahoma prairie seeds this past spring and the blooms did well until the drought. Blanket flowers were not as prolific as usual, but did bloom all summer.
My front yard rain garden has done well with natives like beauty berry and the Mexican sunflowers were a star.
I will admit that I watered the back garden very frequently during June & July and it barely kept most everything alive.
Lastly, I’m removing more grass from the back yard garden paths and hope to create the cottage look with gravel paths instead.
I’m still learning!
Thanks!
This installment was like a reassuring embrace fro an old friend. Much of my garden planting was done this spring. Although I chose everything to be drought tolerant and high sun this summer has long strongs of 40C days with not much cool down at night. Said conditions are uncommon for my area but we all – all of across this globe – face regular, unexpected extreme weather. My new plantings are 80% holding on and doing okay. But that 20% of plant matter dead, crispy does on occasion sink my spirit. And then I realized that eve the middle size garden is facing extremes! This usually smiley greeting from Alexandra provided a level of kismet today – a 42C high – just what I needed.
Time to plant mulberries and catalpas! And a row of pleached limes or white poplars on the western edge to block the hottest sun of the day. 5pm sun is the harshest. Shade on the western side of a house reduces the need for aircon by 70%, on the south side by 50% I read somewhere. Shade shade shade!
Magnolia grandiflora loves the heat. Gironde in France is a magnolia grandiflora forest. You can tell where large estates once were by the huge magnolias now part of the urban landscape. The original gates to a property have often been saved and restored. But you need a keen eye as there are lots of tacky modern shops. But you'll spot an ancient magnolia by a row of ugly 1970s shops, for example.
I often complain about the shade in my small garden because I have several big fruit trees which cause other problems too e.g.the overabundance of fruit which nobody wants. I do appreciate the shade when a heatwave hits, though.
Do the English use Kentucky bluegrass or something else?
This channel is amazing and these videos are all I can watch right now. Also her sign off is fantastic!!