How to Plant for Hotter Summers: Expert-Approved Tips for Resilience

The recent heatwaves and droughts have left many gardeners heartbroken, watching their prized specimens wilt morning after morning. It’s a sobering sight that has been shared by fellow growers this season. The question isn’t just what to plant next, but how to adapt to the changing climate.

Climate change will affect locations differently over the coming years, with hotter and drier summers, milder and wetter winters, and increasingly common extreme weather events. This is not a prediction for some distant future; it’s already happening in many areas. Elizabeth Waddington, a garden designer and writer, notes that just about everything in our gardens will be affected – from when plants flower to watering needs.

The goal now isn’t just maintaining a traditional garden, but building a resilient ecosystem that can weather the changes ahead. This means acknowledging that the plants we’ve always relied on may not have the same resilience to changing temperature and rainfall patterns. In many regions, hydrangeas are struggling to survive heatwaves, while tomatoes fail to turn red due to soaring temperatures.

Planting for hotter summers is no longer a suggestion; it’s a necessity. John Cho, founder of Mr Cozy Plant, highlights the limitations of traditional garden favorites like hydrangeas and tomatoes in today’s climate. As we open our horizons to new plants that can withstand extreme temperatures, we must also consider the practical design and core cycles underpinning all gardening efforts.

The realization that gardeners need to make changes is a difficult one, but it’s essential for building resilient ecosystems. Waddington emphasizes the importance of managing water wisely and taking care of the soil. This means adopting techniques like no-till farming, which involves minimal disturbance to the soil and preserves its structure.

Soil health is often overlooked in gardening, but it’s a critical component of building resilient ecosystems. Kim Stoddart, founder of EcoBeneficial, stresses that thinking soil first is essential for adapting to climate change. Using no-till methods and mulching regularly to lock water in the soil can help protect both soil and plants from extreme weather events.

Ground cover plants and mulches can help protect soil and plants from extreme weather events. Avoiding bare soil, which dries out quickly and becomes vulnerable, is also crucial. Stoddart suggests using freely available materials like grass clippings, leaves, wood chips, and cardboard to protect the soil.

While selecting drought-tolerant plants is a crucial step in adapting to climate change, it’s not the only consideration. Waddington emphasizes that garden design should take into account weather conditions and plant condition. This means being aware of what’s happening in your garden, rather than following a traditional calendar. Boosting biodiversity in the garden by incorporating both plants and wildlife is also essential for minimizing risk and building more stable systems.

As gardeners, we must accept that the climate will continue to change, and our gardens need to adapt accordingly. This means rethinking traditional gardening practices and adopting more resilient approaches. By prioritizing soil health, selecting drought-tolerant plants, and designing for resilience, we can create ecosystems that thrive in a changing world.

The future of gardening is not about abandoning traditional favorites but about embracing new possibilities. As we face the challenges ahead, let’s remember that our gardens are not just a source of beauty and joy but also a reflection of our capacity to adapt and innovate in the face of uncertainty.