Seasonal Thoughts from Planting Gems
Is your garden ready for 2024?
It is official! 2023 was the warmest year on record in the UK, and 2024 is predicted to be warmer still. Periods of drought followed by periods of unusual, persistent rain, means that our gardens are having to cope with unpredictable and challenging conditions. Unseasonal warmer temperatures have also resulted in some shrubs budding for a second time – or coming into bloom early, making them susceptible to sudden cold snaps, reducing later flowering, with knock on impacts for pollinators and setting seeds. Building a resilient garden that can withstand these pressures, will allow your garden to thrive through whatever conditions the climate throws at it.
So how should we, gardeners respond to this situation? Of course it is important to choose the right plant for the right place. To give a plant the best possible chance of thriving, it is vital to take note of aspect and soil, and the plants requirements, so that when planted, it is off to a good start – No good planting a sun lover in a shady corner where it will struggle, even without unpredictable weather conditions.
It is also important to improve the quality of your soil to reduce the stress on plants and trees. A mulch of good quality compost, together with some grit, will add nutrients to the soil and improve drainage. Scratching the soil surface with a cultivator or similar tool will also help reduce compaction, and deter the rain from forming a surface crust which causes run-off rather than absorption.
With more warmer, sunny days, there is an increasing trend for ‘outdoor sitting and dining areas’ even in the smallest of gardens. Being outside more, surrounded by wildlife friendly, attractive planting is good for our physical and emotional well-being, as is recycling and re-using materials or choosing materials that are natural and ‘eco’ to create your haven, such as wood, natural stone and terracotta. Choosing plants and landscapes that are less in need of watering after the first year and finding a way to collect and store water (in ponds or water butts) for those drier periods, is also a way of doing our bit!
By making these choices, gardeners can give back to the environment while also creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
Happy gardening !
Anne Fraser and Caroline Streets
07729 835988 and 07930 876348
Planting Gems
