Blog: change is the new normal!
It seems that wherever we live, we have to come to terms with gardening in warmer wetter winters. I’ve noticed a big change over the last decade in NE England. Supposedly one of the driest parts of the UK, our winter rainfall totals have shot up.
Of course, if the weather was consistently wet or dry, it would be easier to cope with. But what do you do with wet winters and drought-ridden summers? I’ve written at length about flooding and waterlogging in gardens and how you can help your land recover. Find out more about coping with drought too.
Coping with one or the other is more straightforward but when weather conditions flip-flop like this, it’s more difficult. As ever, I’m looking at this from the perspective of gardeners who don’t have a fortune to spend. If you’re less able, you’ll need ideas that are low maintenance. I hope this is some help…
Get rid of lawns and concrete
Green swards are time-consuming and don’t like extremes when it comes to moisture. I dug up the last remnants of my lawn 12 years ago and have never regretted it. Instead, I have paths and patio areas made of gravel with the odd recycled York paving slab. It’s cheap, easy to lay and heavy rainfall naturally and slowly percolates away. Soften edges with planting pockets which are free-draining. I use thrift, chamomile and dwarf thyme for colour and scent and to attract pollinators. They are drought-tolerant enough to survive summers but don’t get waterlogged in winter. Larger Mediterranean shrubs such as lavender and rosemary would benefit from these growing conditions.
On the subject of concrete, the less you have the better. Paving over our gardens means run-off can’t drain away naturally, so pours to the lowest point, leading to floods and blocked drains. We still have a drive but it’s made of gravel and doesn’t flood.
Gardening in warmer wetter winters – Root rot
Prolonged water immersion often spells death for many plants, unless they’re adapted to an aquatic environment. Nothing can be done about root rot. If you can, rescue stem or leaf cuttings that are unaffected. Find out more about recovering from waterlogging.
Potted plants
If you’re living in an area that suffers from wild swings of rainfall and temperature, consider growing in pots and make sure they’re moveable. For example, Belfast sinks are popular for alpines. However, they hate winter wet and are impossible to move! Use lightweight recycled plastic pots instead, place them on wheels like Pot-Mate and move susceptible plants under your house eaves or cover them with a sheet of Perspex.
I use a lot of tender plants in my garden which I overwinter in the greenhouse and conservatory. These range from drought-tolerant cacti and succulents to water-lovers like Alocasia and Colocasia (elephant’s ears). I now use my Belfast sink (which is permanently flooded) to house a couple of Colocasia and they love it! The larger-leaved Alocasia is in a RootPouch which sits inside an old trug filled with water. The water-lovers dry off in autumn, dying down until rewatering starts again in spring.
Gardening in warmer wetter winters – Tulips
Even without the heavy rain, tulip bulbs don’t do well on my heavy clay soil. I’ve always grown them in pots, usually just for a year. An exception is the species tulips, which naturalise and increase. Tulip tarda has done well planted in the gravel and raised beds. Try Lilac Wonder and Little Beauty too.
Raised beds
A costlier but effective way to protect plants from flooding, excess cold and heat and drought. My raised beds are made from pressure-treated railway sleepers, However, I’ve also made them out of 30cm flexible bamboo stakes (not long-lasting), plus wooden and recycled plastic kits. The latter has the benefit that it won’t rot. This raises plant roots away from groundwater levels and offers insulation from extremes of temperature. You can also tailor your soil exactly to your plants’ needs.
Gardening in warmer wetter winters – Bog beds
If an area constantly floods or is waterlogged, make it a feature! I created a small bog bed next to my pond by digging out a hole and lining it with a butyl pond liner. I was careful to create a few holes – I wanted the area to drain slowly, not be an extra pond! This has created a happy environment for moisture-lovers such as Rodgersia, Ligularia Othello and Desdemona, and the American swamp lily.
Rain barrels and mulch
Lastly, balance the excess of water in winter by saving it for the summer! Recycled plastic water butts are a garden essential. I have three in my small garden and am trying to squeeze in more. As hosepipe bans and the cost of metered water can only go up, we need to look more closely at managing our water supply. Using a thick mulch of organic material in spring will help conserve moisure.
