Climate Change is offering gardeners the chance to experiment with new plant varieties and a much wider range of plants as the growing season in the UK is now one month longer than it was over a 100 years ago. http://www.ukcip.org.uk/faq/
According to the UK Climate Impacts Programme, the growing season might lengthen by a further two months by 2050 . In some southern areas , the growing season could run continuously all through the year.With ten of the warmest years recorded in the past sixteen and rainfall often falling in monsoon type showers, we need to think about what we can grow in our gardens, allotments, pots or even on our window-sills.
Here are a few simple actions that you might like to consider:
Choose drought tolerant plants such as geranium, lavender, thymes, sages, sedums, budlia, cystus, rosemary, salvia, agapanthas, ornamental grasses to name a few. Visit my plant pages for more ideas.http://www.myclimatechangegarden.com/blog/plant-collection
Letting your plants have a good soak every couple of days will be of more benefit than little and often watering as this does not encourage the plants to form strong roots to go down and search for water
Install a water butt and water diverter to collect rain water from your roof, and remember to fit water butts to any sheds or greenhouses as well.Visit http://www.myclimatechangegarden.com/blog/is-your-utt-big-enough
Mix water retaining gel into compost for free-standing pots and avoid containers that need regular watering such as hanging baskets.
Apply a mulch to moist ground to conserve water during autumn and spring to a depth of 3 to 4 inches ( chipped bark, mushroom compost or home made compost are good).
Try puddling new plants which means filling the hole with water several times before planting to lock in moisture.
Ensure plants are protected from wind which contributes greatly to drying out.
Cover the tops of containers with pebbles to conserve moisture
Hide plants and pots that are not drought tolerant from mid-day sun
Avoid mowing lawns too often and too short as they survive better in drought
if the blades shade each other
Never water or plant in full sun.
Grey water is re-usable on your garden from your kitchen sink, washing
machine and bath providing that it does not contain much soap or detergent.
Experiment with Global Gardening to make the most of climate change in your garden
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE GARDENING VISIT
http://www.globalgardening.org/
Please SEND PHOTOS of any plants or veg you are growing in your garden for possible inclusion on this site .
Plus ANY GARDENING SECRETS you have for dealing with our changing climate?
E-mail hello@globalgardening.org
The new English garden?
Lemons growing outside in Cornwall, Summer 2011
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