Not so grim up north in major climate change study
Most gardeners in the UK see the effects of global warming daily, and the Gardening in a Changing Climate report confirms this. From my garden in NE England, milder winters, drier springs and erratic weather patterns have changed the way I garden. My base rule is now drought tolerance.
Wherever we live, the climate is going to change the way we all garden, the RHS has claimed in Gardening in a Changing Climate. The lawn could become a thing of the past, and gardeners in the north could enjoy a longer growing season. However, pests and diseases could become established in new areas.
The report authors believe that in the north of the UK, increasing temperatures and rainfall are extending the growing season. The extent to which the growing season can extend in the south is limited by an increasingly dry climate. Read about Alan Titchmarsh speaking about horticulture to MPs.
Gardening in a Changing Climate – Impact on plants and gardeners
The report is a collaboration between the RHS, academics from Sheffield, Reading, and Coventry Universities and the Met Office. It looks at the impact the increase in global temperatures is having on plants and gardeners and the future of gardening.
It is the first in-depth analysis of climate change on UK gardening since 2002. Then, the RHS worked with the UKCIP and the National Trust on the Gardening in the Global Greenhouse report. That report concluded that gardeners would be basking in Mediterranean temperatures and could grow more plants that thrive in bright, dry conditions.
Now, model projections suggest warmer but more variable conditions. Gardeners can expect more extreme weather, and variable, intense rainfall, combined with an increase in dry summers, most pronounced in the south.
Better drainage
If rainfall increases, traditional plants, such as tulips, Alliums and Asters may have to be planted in raised beds for better drainage. Gardeners experiencing higher temperatures may have turned to drought-tolerant and heat-loving plants, such as Aloe or lavender. Lawns may become a casualty, converted to dry meadows, as pressure on water supplies increases. A survey of more than 1,000 gardeners, which forms part of the report, provides a snapshot of UK gardening.
Gardening in a Changing Climate survey results
- Only two per cent of gardeners feel that they have the knowledge to adapt to a changing climate.
- Most are concerned about the general effects of climate change and whether they will still be able to grow their favourite plants.
- Approximately half of the respondents have changed gardening practices, and 79 per cent of people are paying more attention to the climate.
- Drought and waterlogging will become the most critical factors in determining plant survival.
- The introduction of new pests and diseases was the greatest concern after drought and waterlogging.
- Despite heavy rainfall and flooding experienced in recent years, water availability is a concern, as rainfall becomes more sporadic. There will be a need to capture rainfall for use during drought.
Northampton on the edge
Based on average temperature and precipitation maps, Northampton appears to be on the boundary between the warmer and drier south of England and the cooler and wetter north. The town’s gardeners are mowing their lawns more often in early spring and late autumn.
RHS climate scientist and report co-author Dr Eleanor Webster said: “This report provides really important information about the challenges gardeners have been and will continue to face as a result of climate change. While there will undoubtedly be hurdles for gardeners to overcome, when armed with guidance on the steps they can take to adapt to the changes, we are confident that they can continue to garden successfully.”
Gardening in a Changing Climate – ‘Best plants to grow’
She added: “This report not only provides insights into the specific growing conditions the different areas of the country will face, based on their unique geography, but it also provides advice on the specific plants that are best equipped to thrive under the new conditions. Increasing housing pressures will exacerbate the possible implications of climate change outlined in the report. Gardens will become increasingly important for flood protection, local climate buffering and as vital green spaces for wildlife.
“The threat to our gardens and green spaces from climate change is very real and is happening now. It is vitally important that gardeners have the information they will need to confront and adapt to new challenges. Policymakers must prioritise the importance of maintaining green spaces.”
‘Climate change is a defining challenge’
Professor Dame Julia Slingo OBE, the former Met Office chief scientist, wrote the foreword. She said: “Climate change is likely to be one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. How we respond will determine our future prosperity, health and well-being and the sustainability of Earth’s natural environment. Our perspective on what a garden should be and what we might like to grow in it will have to change.
“The good news is that we now have a pretty fair idea of what our future weather and climate might be like. That means that we can start to plan now for the changes that we will need. This report provides some valuable guidance. It demonstrates how climate change need not be a disaster for our gardens, but instead provides us with a wealth of opportunities.”
For more information and advice, visit www.rhs.org.uk.
